Dodgers Lineup Possibilities With Kyle Tucker

Jan 21, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) adjusts his jersey as he is introduced to the media during a press conference at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers addressed the final need on their roster this offseason in emphatic fashion by signing Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract.

Tucker chose to sign with the Dodgers over the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays. He received a similarly structured short-term offer from the Mets, but was presented with a reported 10-year deal by the Blue Jays.

Tucker followed in the footsteps of Edwin Díaz by signing a contract with the Dodgers that set an average annual value (AAV) record. Díaz's three-year, $69 million deal represented an AAV high mark among relief pitchers in MLB history.

Possible Dodgers lineup with Kyle Tucker

vs. LHP	vs. RHP
DH: Shohei Ohtani	DH: Shohei Ohtani
SS: Mookie Betts	SS: Mookie Betts
RF: Kyle Tucker	RF: Kyle Tucker
1B: Freddie Freeman	1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith	C: Will Smith
LF: Teoscar Hernández	3B: Max Muncy
3B: Max Muncy	LF: Teoscar Hernández
CF: Andy Pages	2B: Tommy Edman
2B: Tommy Edman	CF: Andy Pages

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the Dodgers are going to play Tucker in right field but was hesitant to commit to where he would slot in their lineup. Roberts only offered that Tucker would bat in the "top third" of the Dodgers lineup this season.

“I don't want you guys to hold me to it right now, but second or third seems to make sense,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers lineup throughout much of last season featured a balance approach by alternating handedness of the batters. Shohei Ohtani in the leadoff spot meant Mookie Betts hit second, followed by Freddie Freeman and typically Teoscar Hernández. Though, Will Smith started 38 games in the cleanup spot as well.

That same strategy can still be utilized, but may require some flexibility if the team wants to avoid Freeman not hitting until fifth.

Ohtani and Freeman were two of the top four left-handed hitters against left-handed pitching last year, and Tucker ranked fifth. His 134 wRC+ against lefties was only two points behind Freeman’s.

“Any time you can add a guy to your lineup that is arguably better against same-side pitching, there’s just really no holes in what he does offensively,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said about Tucker.

The Dodgers could just as well decide to bat Tucker second in the lineup regardless of the opposing starter, and/or flip Freeman and Smith in the order.

But it is worth nothing Freeman has not made regular starts in the five-hole since the 2012 season.

A wild card with potential Dodgers lineup decisions is Betts, who is coming off the worst offensive season of his career. A repeat of anything remotely close to that type of production would warrant the Dodgers making a significant change with where Betts hits in order to guarantee more at-bats for Tucker, Freeman and Smith.