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The Dodgers’ No. 2 lineup spot has been a persistent dead zone this season, and manager Dave Roberts isn’t ruling out a surprising culprit: the psychological weight of hitting directly behind Shohei Ohtani. Roberts acknowledged the issue plainly, per DodgerBlue.com staff, saying the pressure of following Ohtani “could affect your psyche.” It’s a candid admission from a manager who doesn’t often tip his hand on lineup anxieties.

Ohtani has been Ohtani — which is to say, otherworldly. The two-time AL MVP and reigning NL MVP has continued to be one of the most dynamic offensive forces in baseball, drawing attention from every pitcher and pitching staff the Dodgers face. When you’re stepping into the box after a guy who commands that level of respect (and fear), the at-bats you see can look very different. Pitchers who just navigated Ohtani might nibble more carefully, or they might come at you aggressively after spending so much energy on the leadoff spot. Either way, the ripple effect is real, and Roberts is clearly thinking about it.

The No. 2 spot has been a revolving door this season, with multiple hitters cycling through without producing consistent results. That’s unusual for a lineup this loaded — we’re talking about a roster that features three former MVP Award winners and multiple All-Stars. The fact that the Dodgers have steamrolled opponents despite this black hole tells you how deep this group is, but it also highlights an inefficiency that could matter in October. A dead spot right behind your best hitter is a wasted opportunity to drive him in or keep rallies alive.

Roberts framing this as a potential psychological issue rather than purely a talent problem is interesting. He’s not saying the hitters placed there aren’t good enough — he’s suggesting the environment itself might be part of the problem. That’s a nuanced take, and it opens the door to creative solutions. Maybe you protect the No. 2 hitter by moving someone with a shorter swing or better contact skills into that spot, someone less likely to press. Maybe you flip the lineup construction entirely and let Ohtani hit second instead of leadoff, though that would be a significant departure from what’s worked all season.

I think the bigger takeaway here is that Roberts is aware this is a genuine issue and not just a statistical blip. The All-Star break is right around the corner, and this is exactly the kind of thing a coaching staff should be diagnosing before the stretch run. For a team with World Series aspirations — and let’s be honest, this team’s floor is the NLCS — you can’t afford to leave runs on the table behind your best player for an entire season. The lineup is too talented for the No. 2 spot to stay cold. Roberts clearly agrees, and I’d expect some experimentation in the second half to address it.

Source(s): Staff (DodgerBlue.com) | First reported: July 10, 2026 5:13 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers