How the Dodgers found the best leadoff men in MLB history

Mookie Betts was on still on the injured list when he initiated the most consequential conversation of the Dodgers' 2022 season, walking up to manager Dave Roberts in the dugout during a June game with a question. «What are you going to do with the lineup?» Betts wanted to know, referring to the arrangement of the top three hitters in the lineup.

The next day, Roberts invited Betts, Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman onto the two chairs and the couch in his small office at Dodger Stadium, and he asked for their input. The feedback helped Roberts design what is arguably the most effective 1-2-3 combination for any team — ever.

This is the thrust of the analytics: With Betts hitting leadoff, Turner in the No. 2 spot and Freeman batting third, the Dodgers have three players who rank in baseball's top 10 in WAR — and, as Sarah Langs of MLB.com notes, this would be the first time in baseball history that the top three hitters of any particular lineup accomplished that together.

These are the results: In the 65 games since Roberts and the trio settled on the batting order, the Dodgers have averaged 5.8 runs per game and won 75.4% of their games; over a full season, that's a 122-win pace. Betts leads the National League with 110 runs scored; he has 34 homers. Turner has scored 90 runs, hit 20 homers and stolen 24 bases. Freeman leads the majors with 181 hits, 45 doubles and a .329 batting average. He has scored 104 runs (second in the NL).

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«It's remarkable to watch,» Roberts said over his cellphone the recently, on his trip to the park. «With those three guys, the thing I love about them is that they just love playing