The Los Angeles Dodgers know all about star-studded lineups. But the projected 2026 version might just outdo anything this franchise has ever put together.
They’re building around elite hitters, strong advanced metrics, and a few intriguing bounce-back candidates. Analysts keep digging into the Live Ball Era for comparisons, and honestly, you can’t blame them.
What comes out of all that research? There’s a real case that this group could rank among the most dangerous offenses baseball has ever seen.
Why the 2026 Dodgers Lineup Is Turning Heads
Offensive depth often separates good teams from great ones. The Dodgers look ready to have it in spades.
Based on 2025 OPS+ numbers, eight of the nine projected everyday players hit above league average. That kind of across-the-board production doesn’t come around often, even for top-tier teams.
Since the start of the Live Ball Era, only 22 teams have fielded eight players with at least 400 plate appearances and an OPS+ above average in a season. The Dodgers aren’t just flirting with that mark—they seem set to blow past it.
A Lineup Built on Relentless Pressure
The projected 2026 batting order: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Kyle Tucker, Will Smith, Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy, Andy Pages, and Tommy Edman. Top to bottom, that’s a group that keeps pitchers on edge.
There are barely any soft spots to attack. Every at-bat feels like a potential problem for opposing arms.
Elite Comparisons From Baseball History
What really sets this Dodgers lineup apart is the top-end firepower. In 2025, four players—Ohtani, Freeman, Tucker, and Smith—posted OPS+ marks at least 40% above league average.
That’s a very exclusive club. Only four teams in the Live Ball Era have ever pulled it off:
Winning Precedent
Those teams didn’t just post gaudy stats. Two won the World Series, and the other two made it to the final round.
That kind of offensive concentration seems to translate into October success, more often than not.
The Max Muncy and Left-Handed Power Factor
If you adjust the threshold—135 OPS+ with 375 plate appearances—Max Muncy joins the elite group. That comparison lines up with the 1953 Dodgers, who also had Jackie Robinson posting a 138 OPS+.
It’s a good reminder: this kind of lineup construction is seriously rare.
The handedness angle makes it even wilder. If 2025 performances hold, the Dodgers could be the first Live Ball Era team with four left-handed hitters—Ohtani, Freeman, Tucker, and Muncy—all at least 35% above league average in OPS+.
A Matchup Nightmare
For opposing managers, it’s a nightmare to plan for. Bullpen specialists lose their edge when elite lefty bats stack up in the middle of the order.
That really limits late-game options. It’s enough to make any manager sweat.
Key Variables That Could Elevate—or Temper—Greatness
No projection comes without risk. Two names stand out as wild cards for just how historic this offense could become.
Mookie Betts just had a down year by his standards, hitting .258/.326/.406. If he bounces back to his career norms—around a 135 OPS+, or even better like in 2024—the Dodgers’ lineup gets even scarier.
Teoscar Hernández is another big swing factor. He posted a 135 OPS+ in 2024, but his 2025 was uneven, and those trade rumors keep swirling.
If he finds stability, the upside is obvious. But you can’t pencil it in just yet.
Projection Systems Agree
FanGraphs’ Steamer projections already put five Dodgers—Ohtani, Tucker, Freeman, Betts, and Smith—among the top 50 projected wRC+ hitters in baseball. No other team has that many in the mix.
It’s hard not to buy into the hype when the numbers line up like that.
A Real Shot at Offensive Immortality
Assuming repeat performances is always risky, especially in baseball. The sport’s unpredictable nature keeps everyone guessing.
But the Dodgers’ mix of superstar talent, solid depth, and a few guys who could easily bounce back? That gives them a real shot at building one of the most dangerous offenses we’ve ever seen.
If most of these things come together, the 2026 Dodgers won’t just win—they’ll probably get compared to the best lineups in baseball history.
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers’ lineup was great before. With Tucker? They look historically awesome
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