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Tommy Edman is being discussed as a potential fix for the No. 2 spot in the Dodgers’ batting order — a position that has given the club fits for much of the 2026 season, per Dodger Blue. Mookie Betts was among several hitters who struggled batting second this year, and manager Dave Roberts eventually moved him down to the cleanup spot. That change helped Betts start producing again, but it left an open question: who hits second going forward?

Edman makes a lot of sense if you think about what the Dodgers need in that lineup slot. The 31-year-old switch-hitter has always been a high-contact, versatile bat who can put the ball in play from both sides of the plate. He came over from the Cardinals ahead of the 2024 trade deadline and was a huge part of the World Series run that year, playing multiple positions and providing quality at-bats when it mattered most. He’s the kind of hitter who doesn’t strike out a ton, can work counts, and has enough pop to keep pitchers honest — exactly the profile you want sandwiched between your leadoff man and the middle of the order.

Betts, meanwhile, seems to have found his footing since sliding to cleanup. The former MVP went through a real rough patch batting second, and Roberts deserves credit for making the move rather than stubbornly sticking with a plan that wasn’t working. At 33, Betts is still one of the best all-around players in the game, but the reality is that comfort in the lineup matters, and if he’s raking in the four-hole, you leave him there.

The No. 2 spot in a lineup is quietly one of the most important positions in modern baseball. Analytics departments across the league have shifted toward putting their best overall hitter there — someone who gets on base at a high clip and can drive the ball. The Dodgers have tried multiple options in that slot this season without finding a consistent answer. Edman’s ability to switch-hit gives him an edge against both lefties and righties, and his approach at the plate — working counts, spraying the ball to all fields — fits the mold of what you want from a guy hitting between the leadoff hitter and the heart of the order.

I like this idea quite a bit. Edman isn’t going to wow you with raw power numbers, but he’s a smart, disciplined hitter who rarely looks overmatched. If Roberts slots him into the two-hole and lets Betts stay comfortable at cleanup, we could end up with a lineup that flows a lot better top to bottom. The Dodgers have spent the first half searching for the right configuration — this might be the one that sticks for the second half. It’s a subtle move, not a splashy one, but those are often the ones that matter most down the stretch.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: July 17, 2026 2:22 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers