Assuming there will be some semblance of a 2020 Major League Baseball season played in the next several months, there are persistent rumors that all 30-teams will use the Designated Hitter rule for all games played, including the postseason.

Forty-seven MLB seasons have been played since the American League adopted the DH in 1973 in order to improve offense and spur attendance. Meanwhile, the National League, MLB’s senior circuit, has been pushing back on the rule for almost five decades. But there have been recent signs that the NL would acquiesce on adopting the DH during the next round of collective bargaining, perhaps as a bargaining chip for a renewal contract in December 2021.

But the possibility of a pandemic-driven shortened MLB season in 2020 has likely moved up the timetable for a universal DH rule for both leagues. Perhaps the message will be spun that the NL has agreed to use the DH for this season only as an experiment, but make no mistake about it, metaphorically, the nose of the camel will be inside the tent. There will be no going back for baseball purists like me.

So how will the adoption of the DH affect the Dodgers? The team has five positional players regarded as ‘regulars’ who will not be platooned with another player: infielders Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Corey Seager, plus outfielders Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts. Rookie middle infielder Gavin Lux may also fit into that category, but with veteran super-utility players Kiké Hernandez and Chris Taylor on the roster, it is likely that Lux will share second base in a platoon-style arrangement. Outfielders Joc Pederson and A.J. Pollock will most likely share left field duties. Although not platooned in the strictest sense of the term, catchers Austin Barnes and Will Smith will undoubtedly share the duties behind the plate.

When the Dodgers face a right-handed starting pitcher, we will normally see a defensive alignment of Smith (catcher); Muncy (first base); Lux (second base); Turner (third base); Seager (shortstop); Pederson (left field); Bellinger (center field); and Betts (right field). Who, then, would be the Dodgers DH in this lineup? Either left-handed hitters Edwin Rios or Matt Beaty would be the logical choices. Other options would be to use one of the regular players as the DH, with Rios or Beaty playing defensively.

When the team faces a left-handed starting pitcher, we will still see Smith (or Barnes), Muncy, Turner, Seager, Bellinger, and Betts in the lineup, with Pollock replacing Pederson, Hernandez at second base in place of Lux, and Taylor as the DH. Defensively, the Dodgers are better with Taylor in left field and Pollock as the DH, but I don’t see the team making that switch.

With so many players able to play multiple positions and (presumedly) expanded COVID-19 rosters, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will have a high-powered bench to call upon at any time during any game. And with the likelihood that rosters will be expanded to more than 30-players, this gives the Dodgers skipper the flexibility to allow highly regarded prospects like catcher Keibert Ruiz, outfielders DJ Peters and Cody Thomas, infielder Zach McKinstry, and pitchers Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Brusdar Graterol, and Dennis Santana to contribute this year to the Dodgers World Series aspirations.

Make no mistake about it, the DH is coming to the National League. Since 1973, it has never been a question of if, but a matter of when. It now appears that the when will be July 1, 2020.

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DH Trivia

On April 6, 1973, Opening Day of the 1973 season, New York Yankees utility infielder/outfielder Ron Blomberg became MLB’s first-ever designated hitter. In his first plate appearance, Blomberg drew a walk on a full count off of Boston Red Sox right-hander Luis Tiant.

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