{
  "id": 9008725,
  "title": "Dodgers have lineup problem they cannot afford to solve by benching Josue De Paula",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/dodgers-have-lineup-problem-they-cannot-afford-to-solve-by-benching",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T21:11:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dodgers-lineup-problem-cannot-afford-211110693.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Josue De Paula, a 21-year-old rookie, was expected to add young talent to the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup for the final weeks of the regular season. However, the rookie's impressive performance has created a dilemma for the team. Through his first 10 MLB games, De Paula has reached base at a .474 clip, providing the Dodgers with another formidable left-handed hitter. This poses a problem when Shohei Ohtani, the team's star player, is set to return.\n\nThe Dodgers currently have several established outfielders, but De Paula's exceptional bat is making it difficult to find room for all of them. The rookie's hot start is not an overnight success; he dominated Double-A pitching throughout the season before making his September debut with the Dodgers. Minor League Baseball even named him the 2026 Texas League MVP on Monday.\n\nDe Paula's impressive statistics in the minor leagues have carried over to the MLB, as he has gone 8-for-28 with 10 walks, one home run, and seven RBIs in his first 10 games with the Dodgers. He has also shown his versatility by playing two games in left field. With Ohtani nearing a return, manager Dave Roberts is likely to activate him as a hitter, which could further complicate the lineup. The Dodgers already have Kyle Tucker, Teoscar Hernández, and Andy Pages in the outfield, making the decision on what to do with De Paula even more challenging.\n\nWhile the Dodgers do not have to solve the entire problem immediately, De Paula's performance highlights a significant issue for Dave Roberts: finding enough at-bats for everyone when Ohtani returns. The team will face this lineup challenge heading into October.",
  "summary": "The Los Angeles Dodgers cannot take rookie Josue De Paula’s bat out of the lineup.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}