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LOS ANGELES — For the first time in three weeks, the Dodgers have their best four hitters all in the starting lineup in the same game, with Chris Taylor, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, and Cody Bellinger occupy the first four spots int he batting order on Saturday night against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium.
Starting lineups
| Pos | Rockies | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Rockies | Pos | Dodgers |
| CF | Blackmon (L) | CF | Taylor |
| 2B | LeMahieu | SS | Seager |
| 3B | Arenado | 3B | Turner |
| 1B | Reynolds | 1B | Bellinger (L) |
| RF | Parra (L) | RF | Puig |
| SS | Story | C | Grandal (S) |
| LF | Desmond | 2B | Forsythe |
| C | Lucroy | LF | Pederson (L) |
| P | Bettis | P | Wood |
With Bellinger on the disabled list with a sprained ankle, followed by Seager unable to play the field for 11 games with a sore elbow, the lineup was without those two until Friday night when Seager returned. But that was a scheduled day off for Taylor, delaying the quartet playing together for one more day.
Those four players rank in the top 17 among qualified batters in the National League in wRC+ in 2017:
- 5th — Turner: 154 wRC+, .328/.418/.540
- 11th — Bellinger: 141 wRC+, .268/.345/.598
- 14th — Taylor: 138 wRC+, .305/.371/.526
- 17th — Seager: 136 wRC+, .309/.389/.498
In the 53 games those four players have been in the same lineup this season, the Dodgers are averaging 5.68 runs per game, and are 45-8 (.849).
The last time all four were in the same lineup was Aug. 19 against the Tigers in Detroit.
Taylor starts in center field, with Joc Pederson shifting over and making his first major league start in left field.
“For Chris, as a first-year outfielder, getting balls off the bat and being able to cover ground with his foot speed, to have him in center field is a good visual for him,” manager Dave Roberts said. “With Joc, he can play all three positions.”
Pederson, who played two games and five total innings in left field in reserve in his September 2014 call-up, started 10 of his 14 games with Oklahoma City in left field after he was optioned to Triple-A in August.