The Los Angeles Dodgers were going to have to make some daring decisions about playing time and lineups because so much had changed from the previous season. After losing Shohei Ohtani, one of their top hitters, it was only a matter of time until new manager Ron Washington experimented with the lineup to see what worked.
But when Wash mentioned Anthony Rendon as a potential leadoff hitter during spring training, there was a great deal of skepticism. Washington looked to be genuinely counting on Rendon looking like his previous All-Star self rather than the guy who has struggled to do much of anything the last three seasons, including participating in games at all. This is not to say that Washington was incorrect in his thinking in a vacuum.
Washington is going to bat Rendon leadoff on Opening Day, so we should have been paying closer attention to what he was saying.
To be honest, the Angels do not have a standard leadoff hitter on their roster. That much is true. Although he has typically produced strong results in the leadoff position, a healthy Mike Trout would be a perfect fit. However, his numbers have often been better a little lower in the order. Rendon can get on base at a decent enough rate to make it work if he is truly healthy and, you know, genuinely cares about baseball a little bit.
Another thing to notice about this roster is how heavily it leans right. Lefty-hitting Nolan Schanuel is batting sixth, while switch-hitter Aaron Hicks, who had a great spring, is positioned at No. 2 in the lineup.
Even though Corbin Burnes is coming off a less than stellar spring training, this lineup might be troublesome with the potentially tough righty from Baltimore on the field.
Now that the Angels’ Opening Day lineup and roster have been finalized, all that remains is to wait for the weather to cooperate so that LA’s game against the Orioles can begin this afternoon.
