The Dodgers Have Solved Baseball’s Biggest First-World Problem

The biggest first-world problem in Major League Baseball has a solution.

The Los Angeles Dodgers had baseball’s best leadoff hitter in Mookie Betts. From Opening Day until June 16, Betts played in 72 of the Dodgers’ 73 games and hit .304 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs. He also went 9 for 10 in stolen-base attempts and scored 50 runs.

When a 98-mph fastball fractured Betts’ left hand, sending him to the injured list, he was a top-10 player in the National League in runs, average, OBP, and slugging. What’s a manager to do?

Read more: Mookie Betts’ Injury Deals Serious Blow to Dodgers

If you’re Dave Roberts, you replace Betts with the prohibitive National League MVP: Shohei Ohtani.

Since Betts was injured, Ohtani has stepped in and somehow been an even more productive hitter than he was previously. Ohtani, who was slashing .306/.377/.571 in his first 69 games as the Dodgers’ number-2 hitter, has a .307/.423/.699 slash line in 40 games batting leadoff.

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Celebrates First Week in Leadoff Spot With Major Award

Roberts has a decision to make. Betts is set to return from the injured list next week. He’s been the Dodgers’ regular leadoff hitter in all but 23 of his 507 regular-season starts since he was traded to Los Angeles prior to the 2020 season. Ohtani looks more comfortable at the plate than at any point in his career at the top of the order.

And now, the Dodgers’ designated hitter is bumping Betts down a spot.

Roberts told reporters Tuesday at Dodger Stadium that Betts will return at the shortstop position he’s been holding down since March — but Ohtani will remain as the team’s leadoff hitter while Betts hits second.

Almost from the moment, the Dodgers signed Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract last December, the topic of how to order the top of the lineup was a source of fierce debate among Dodger fans.

Even internally, Roberts acknowledged there were pros and cons to moving Freddie Freeman out of the number-2 spot in the batting order — a role he thrived in last year hitting behind Betts. Ultimately he landed on Betts first, Ohtani second, and Freeman third, and did not waver from the plan until Betts’ injury.

The Dodgers were 44-29 at the time, comfortably leading the National League West by eight games less than one-third of the way through the season.

Since losing Betts to the injury, Los Angeles is only four games over .500 (22-18) entering Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Arizona Diamondbacks (26-15) and San Diego Padres (24-14) have the two best records in the National League during the same stretch, narrowing the gap in the West division.

As the Dodgers look forward to Betts’ return, Ohtani can rest comfortably knowing his place in the batting order won’t change. Neither will Betts’ position in the field. And the change in batting order amounts to a needed solution to a problem every major league manager would love to have.