Dodgers Bat Kyle Tucker Eighth Against Brewers in NLCS Opener

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Kyle Tucker eighth in their batting order for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday evening, as manager Dave Roberts finalized his lineup for the postseason matchup. The decision keeps Tucker in the lower portion of the order despite Milwaukee starting right-hander Jacob Misiorowski. According to the lineup information published ahead of the game, Tucker has consistently batted eighth for Los Angeles during the 2026 MLB playoffs, regardless of the opposing pitcher's handedness.

The Dodgers entered the NLCS among the four teams remaining in the postseason, one round away from a potential World Series appearance. The announced Los Angeles lineup listed Mookie Betts at shortstop, Freddie Freeman at first base, Will Smith at catcher, Shohei Ohtani as the designated hitter, Teoscar Hernández in left field, Max Muncy at third base, Andy Pages in center field, Tucker in right field and Enrique Hernández at second base. Tarik Skubal was listed as the starting pitcher.

Enrique Hernández entered the lineup with Tommy Edman and Miguel Rojas unavailable, according to the source report. Ohtani was positioned fourth in the batting order, while Smith remained third despite struggling during the National League Division Series.

Tucker's place in the lineup comes during the first season of a four-year extension with the Dodgers. His offensive production during the 2026 regular season was described as underwhelming in the source report, placing greater attention on his performance during the postseason. The report also noted signs of improvement in Tucker's at-bats beginning in September, with some of his offensive numbers reflecting that progress. His position in the batting order, however, remained unchanged for the NLCS opener.

Los Angeles signed Tucker with postseason competition in mind, and the series against Milwaukee presents another opportunity for the outfielder to contribute during the most important stage of the season. The Dodgers are seeking to reach the World Series for a third consecutive season, according to the source report. Milwaukee also announced its starting lineup before Game 1, setting up the opening contest of the National League Championship Series. The matchup featured Skubal and Misiorowski as the starting pitchers, with the Dodgers maintaining Tucker's established eighth spot in the order.