Lineup changes for Game 5 reflect urgency

During most of this World Series, manager Dave Roberts said he had been contemplating a change to the Dodgers' scuffling lineup.

- BY JACK HARRIS

TORONTO'S Daulton Varsho is caught stealing second base as Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman applies the tag in Game 5.

(GINA FERAZZI Los Angeles Times)

After the team's 6-2 loss in Game 4 on Tuesday, he said he was “going to think long and hard” about the batting order and hinted that “it might look a little bit different tomorrow.”

Did it ever.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Dodgers announced a Game 5 lineup that included multiple notable changes. Slumping shortstop Mookie Betts, who has hit just .147 over his last eight games, was dropped from the No. 2 to No. 3 spot, with catcher Will Smith bumping up to bat behind leadoff man Shohei Ohtani.

At the bottom of the order, Andy Pages was dropped to the bench after batting .080 this postseason, and replaced by Alex Call in left field. Kiké Hernández shifted from left field to center.

“Getting Alex in there at the bottom, I felt that just the at-bat quality, seeing pitches, the potential to get somebody on base for Shohei at the top [would be better],” Roberts said. “And then as far as Mookie and Will, I just feel that that’s the best way to win the game tonight.”

The moves reflected the urgency of the Dodgers' current situation, in which they find themselves in a 2-2 World Series deadlock with the Toronto Blue Jays thanks in no small part to their 214 team batting average in this World Series.