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The Dodgers shook up their lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies, dropping Mookie Betts from the two-hole to the cleanup spot. Andy Pages moved up to hit second in his place, per Dodger Blue staff. After Betts responded with a two-homer game, he pushed back on the idea that the lineup change was behind his success. “For me, you see he’s not swinging well,” was the reasoning from the coaching staff, as Betts acknowledged. But Betts himself pointed to the work he’s been putting in rather than where his name appeared on the lineup card.

This is a notable move for a player of Betts’s caliber. He’s a former AL MVP, a two-time World Series champion, and one of the highest-paid players in baseball history after signing his massive extension with the Dodgers. Betts has been the fixture in the top third of this lineup since arriving in Los Angeles, almost always hitting first or second. Dropping him to fourth is the kind of thing that gets your attention — it signals the coaching staff saw enough of a prolonged struggle to make a change. Just days ago, Betts openly admitted he was “not confident” and “overthinking” at the plate, which is about as candid as you’ll hear from a star of his stature. The two-homer game that followed was encouraging, but Betts clearly doesn’t want to credit the lineup slot. He wants to credit the process.

Pages getting the bump to the two-spot is worth paying attention to as well. The 23-year-old outfielder has been quietly building a solid case for himself in 2026 after a rookie season that showed flashes but came with plenty of growing pains. Moving him up in the order behind Shohei Ohtani (who presumably remains in the leadoff spot) is a vote of confidence from the staff. Pages has shown he can handle velocity and isn’t intimidated by high-leverage at-bats, which is exactly the kind of profile you want sitting in a prominent lineup spot.

I think the bigger picture here is that Roberts and the coaching staff are willing to be flexible, even with their biggest names. That’s a good thing. Betts doesn’t need to be locked into the two-hole if he’s grinding through a rough stretch — and honestly, cleanup is hardly a demotion. It’s still a premier spot in the order. The fact that Betts responded immediately with authority is a positive sign, but we shouldn’t read too much into one game. What matters more is whether the work Betts is referencing translates into sustained improvement over the next couple of weeks. If it does, where he hits in the order becomes a moot point. If it doesn’t, expect more tinkering. For now, it’s encouraging that he looks like he’s coming out of the fog — and that the Dodgers aren’t afraid to make adjustments when the situation calls for it.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: May 27, 2026 4:09 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers