TAMPA -- The Dodgers are still figuring out the long-term solution to spark their scuffling lineup. But in the short term, they decided that another change at the top would make sense.
Shohei Ohtani moved back to the leadoff spot and Mookie Betts dropped down to the two-hole for Sunday afternoon's series finale against the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The two had been swapped in the order since July 20, when the Dodgers batted a struggling Betts atop the order in the hope that it would revitalize his bat. That has not come to pass.
Entering Sunday, Betts had gone 8-for-43 (.189) with a .498 OPS and seven runs scored in his past 11 games. The idea that a move to the top might lead to him getting on base more did not quite pan out either, as Betts had a .265 OBP with five walks in that span.
The change might not be permanent, as manager Dave Roberts is still considering how best to configure the lineup. The impending return of third baseman Max Muncy -- who could be back as soon as Monday after missing nearly five weeks with a bone bruise in his left knee -- could also shake things up soon.
"It's kind of just trying to figure out what's best short term," Roberts said. "Longer term, we've got Munce coming back soon. Will [Smith's] not playing every day, obviously, as a catcher. ... This was the best lineup for today. And that's kind of where I'm at right now."
Meanwhile, Ohtani went into Sunday with mixed results since moving down a spot in the lineup (he led off two games last weekend in Boston while Betts was away from the team due to a death in the family). Ohtani went 12-for-49 (.245), with five of those hits leaving the yard. But he also struck out 24 times in 56 plate appearances.
Ohtani's .983 OPS out of the leadoff spot is the best among all Major Leaguers with at least 200 plate appearances in the top spot in the order. A Dodgers team that has gotten inconsistent production at the plate over the past month could certainly use that version of him.
"He's open to whatever helps the team," Roberts said. "But I do think that once you're in the batter's box, you're in the batter's box. Being the first hitter of the game might trigger something."
Betts' move to the leadoff spot wasn't expected to be a permanent change, but it has not led to a turnaround. While he has made some better contact in recent days, it has not translated to results. Betts' .667 OPS would be the lowest of his 12-year big league career if he can't turn things around by season's end. Only Michael Conforto (.649) has a worse mark among qualified Dodgers hitters.
Dropping Betts down farther in the order is not out of the question if he continues to scuffle, and Roberts is trying to strike a balance between fielding his best lineup while trying to get his starting shortstop in the right headspace.
"I know that he and the hitting coaches have been working diligently, consistently, intentionally," Roberts said. "I think that the first thing, the easiest thing, to say is it's a mechanical thing. So I guess kind of that's where he's at. But also I do believe that there's a mental part of it, too, which is sort of beating him down a little bit, where I'm just trying to continue to instill my faith in him and confidence in him."