The Dodgers needed an outfielder. They went out and got Kyle Tucker. People got mad. That’s fine.
The fact is, Tucker is such a massive upgrade to what the Dodgers had last season that it could take the lineup — that already includes Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith and Max Muncy — to another level.
Since Hernandez played right field last year, let’s look at the Dodgers’ production from left field last year:
Don’t be fooled, though. Most of that production is propped up by Andy Pages and his 19-game, 64-plate appearance stint playing left field — .431/.453/.741, 226 wRC+. Michael Conforto saw almost all the time in left field last year and it didn’t go well: .202/.308/.341, 86 wRC+. Adding Tucker and moving Hernandez to left field made all the sense in the world.
Since signing Tucker (who was officially announced on Wednesday), there has been plenty of discourse about what the Dodgers’ lineup will look like with him in fold. I’ve seen him mocked anywhere from second to sixth in the lineup. For a player with his talent, ability and contract, I don’t foresee him hitting any lower than fifth in the lineup. In fact, Dave Roberts said at Tucker’s introductory press conference that “second or third” is where he envisions him hitting in the lineup. That will be reflected below.
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Before we get to the projections, let’s look at what Tucker’s 2025 performance would have looked like in Dodger Stadium. This is a spray chart of all his balls in play in 2025 when the Cubs played at home. This, obviously, doesn’t take into account environmental factors, but this is what his chart looked like, with Dodger Stadium as the stadium of choice.
He would have hit seven more home runs at Dodger Stadium than he did at Wrigley Field. Overall, his expected home runs for the Dodgers would have been 29, while it was 19 with the Cubs. He actually over-performed his expected home run numbers with the Cubbies. Freddie saw a similar xHR increase when he signed with the Dodgers (16 to 26; he hit 21 in his first year with the Dodgers in 2022).
Here is more evidence Tucker could be in for a nice power bump:
Hitters with New Home Parks ?️
Differentials in HR Park Factor
^via Baseball Savant pic.twitter.com/bb7aoHLr3t
— Matthew Davis (@mattywood) January 16, 2026
Dodger Stadium is now a hitter’s park, folks.
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Tucker’s impact on the lineup will be felt, and his production will be a massive upgrade over the likes of Conforto, Alex Call and the lot.
These lineup projections will have Smith featured in both, but he will clearly get days off (and he might not be the only veteran who does), so the lineup would change when he sits. But here is what I’m thinking the lineup should look like against right- and left-handed pitchers.
vs. RHPOhtani DHTucker RFBetts SSFreeman 1BSmith CHernandez LFMuncy 3BEdman 2BPages CF
vs. LHPOhtani DHBetts SSTucker RFSmith CFreeman 1BHernandez LFMuncy 3BEdman 2BPages CF
Unlike years past, it’s the same names in both projections — just in slight different orders. However, there could be some platoon opportunities to be had.
Ohtani and Freeman were two of the four best left-handed hitters against left-handed pitching in 2025. Having lefties who can hit lefties helps a lot! Who was fifth, you might ask? Tucker. His 134 wRC+ against southpaws was just two points behind Freeman’s 136.
Interestingly enough, some of the Dodgers’ right-handed hitters struggled against lefties in 2025. Miguel Rojas led the team with a 143 wRC+, followed by Smith’s 138. There’s a bit of a drop to Pages’ 117 before we get to Hernandez and Betts — both at 106.
Muncy, who ample enjoyed success against lefties for a 4-year stretch (2018-21), has fallen off pretty hard against them since. Here are his wRC+ against lefties since 2022:
2022: 97
2023: 74
2024: 106
2025: 59
He might find himself sitting against lefties a bit more, with Rojas likely to get some looks at the hot corner in his farewell season. When Enrique Hernandez is inevitably re-signed and when healthy, he’ll also get some looks at third base. Until then, it could be the Rojas/Andy Ibanez show at third against lefties.
Tommy Edman‘s deficiencies against righties is well-known. He’s much better as a right-handed hitter against lefties. With a chance he starts the season on the injured list, perhaps that opens the door for Hyeseong Kim to get some time at second base against right-handers (even when Edman is healthy).
The Dodgers only have a couple question marks in the lineup. Pages — despite coming off a season that saw him hit .272/.313/.461 with 27 home runs and a 113 wRC+ as a 24-year-old while playing plus-defense in center field — is a question mark for some strictly because of his struggles at the plate in October. I’m willing to take the larger sample (regular season) over the smaller sample (postseason). Second base is the other question mark, simply because of injury and under-performance. Other than that, the Dodgers have above-average hitters at every other position in the lineup. Tucker will help against both lefties and righties, while he and Smith should see ample opportunity to drive in runs. Especially Smith, if he hits in the Nos. 4/5 spot in the lineup. Smith’s career-high in RBIs is 87, and I’m taking the over on that.
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This is the deepest the Dodgers’ lineup has been in my [redacted] years of fandom. And yet, it will struggle at times! Because that’s baseball. But Tucker’s addition will only strengthen the lineup (and defense).
It should be a fun year of Dodger baseball.
