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          Dodgers Report

          Mattingly: Rollins will bat leadoff

          • Mark Saxon, ESPN Staff WriterMar 3, 2015, 01:54 PM ET
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              Mark Saxon covers the St. Louis Cardinals for ESPN.com. He served as the Dodgers team reporter for ESPNLosAngeles.com. through the 2015 season. He spent six years at the Orange County Register, and began his career at the Oakland Tribune, where he started an 11-year journey covering Major League Baseball. He has also covered colleges, including USC football and UCLA basketball.
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          GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Jimmy Rollins will bat leadoff in Wednesday’s Cactus League opener against the Chicago White Sox and, according to manager Don Mattingly, he’ll probably be there Opening Day and for many games beyond that as well.

          “That’s the one guy we are pretty sure about, Jimmy is that leadoff guy,” Mattingly said. “We don’t truly have anyone else that fits in that role.”

          Rollins has started 1,456 major-league games as a leadoff hitter, the most among active players aside from Ichiro Suzuki. Then again, he’s 36, batted .245 last year and has a lifetime .327 on-base percentage, barely better than league average.

          Carl Crawford profiles better as a No. 2 hitter and, while Yasiel Puig led the Dodgers in on-base percentage last season, he’s not a skilled enough base runner to steal bases and the Dodgers would prefer his bat in a position to drive in runs.

          Rollins tended to bat second in Philadelphia the last two seasons.

          “He gives us a guy from both sides, with speed. He profiles up there,” Mattingly said. “He’s the guy you can pretty much play every day and he’s a consistent guy up there at the top.”