The Dodgers are shaking things up ahead of World Series Game 5, making a pair of significant tweaks to the lineup after dropping Game 4 on Tuesday night.
Moving up in the lineup and taking Mookie Betts's spot as the No. 2 hitter for Wednesday's game will be catcher Will Smith. Betts will move down to No. 3, where Freddie Freeman had been batting. Freeman will hit fourth. Betts, despite batting behind Shohei Ohtani, whom Toronto has been remarkably cautious about pitching to, hasn't been too productive in the postseason. He's recorded three hits in the World Series, all singles, and has just a .688 OPS in the playoffs.
Additionally, Andy Pages is moving to the bench in favor of Alex Call, who will start in left field. Pages has struggled at the plate in the postseason, with just four hits in 50 at-bats. He's collected just one hit in the World Series, prompting Dave Roberts to remove him from the starting lineup in favor of Call. With Call in left field and batting ninth, Kike Hernández will be in center field.
Game 5.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 29, 2025
Tonight's #WorldSeries Dodgers lineup vs. Blue Jays: pic.twitter.com/SziUl6lema
Pages had been playing center field, so the Dodgers will be making a change to their approach on defense, too.
With the series knotted at 2–2, it's guaranteed that the teams return to Rogers Centre for the closeout game, whether that be Game 6 or Game 7. Los Angeles was considered a heavy favorite heading into the Fall Classic, and the fact that the Blue Jays have won even two games is a surprise to many. Now, the Dodgers will be hoping these lineup changes can propel them to a crucial win in Game 5 before they return to Toronto.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Dodgers Make Significant Lineup Tweaks for World Series Game 5 vs. Blue Jays.
