Dave Roberts Reveals Reasoning Behind Big Change in Dodgers’ Game 3 Lineup

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a new lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.

Read more: Dodgers Make Big Changes to Lineup For NLCS Game 3 vs Mets

The Dodgers have Max Muncy batting cleanup, and Teoscar Hernández down in the five-hole. Will Smith is batting seventh. Manager Dave Roberts revealed why the team made the changes when speaking to reporters on Wednesday.

“With Will, I just think give him a different look. I don’t think he’s swinging the bat great. So just to kind of let the game get to him a little bit later. Severino’s typically been a much better versus right. So just to give some lefties more cracks at him. And that’s kind of the impetus behind that. I like the way Max is taking at-bats, and I feel good with him moving up a rung.”

Severino allowed right-handed opponents to hit just .216 with an OPS of .615.

Left-handed hitters, however, hit .269 with an OPS of .774.

There are three left-handed hitters in the Dodgers’ top four on Wednesday with Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Muncy. Another lefty, Gavin Lux, is hitting in the six-hole.

Severino will look to improve his splits in a crucial Game 3 of a 1-1 series. For what it’s worth, Severino believes he has the blueprint to slow down Ohtani .

Read more: Mets Game 3 Starter Believes He Has Blueprint for Slowing Down Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani

Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images