LOS ANGELES — The Red Sox lead the majors in scoring by a wide margin thanks in large part to the consistency of the first five players in their lineup.

With only occasional changes, the batting order has been Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia, Xander Bogaerts, David Ortiz, and Hanley Ramirez. All have been productive and thrived in those spots.

But manager John Farrell is considering changing that combination to have Betts bat in the middle of the order and better take advantage of his power.

“On my desk [are] probably three different lineups with him in different spots,’’ Farrell said Saturday before a 3-0 loss to the Dodgers.

“What he’s doing from impacting the ball has been outstanding. We’ve looked at putting Pedey in the 1-hole and Mookie in the 3-hole with Xander in the 2-hole. That’s one scenario. It’s something that has been thought of and drawn up in a couple of different ways.’’

Why change a lineup that has been so productive? Pedroia (.370) has a higher on-base percentage than Betts (.350).

Betts also has 59 extra-base hits, the second-most in the majors through Friday.

“When I look beneath the bulk numbers that are there, [with] one small adjustment can we be even that much more productive? There’s a side of that that says Pedey sees a lot of pitches; he gets on base at a good rate.’’

Farrell said there have been “some times’’ when Betts looks better after his first at-bat. But for the season, Betts has hit .351 with a 1.014 OPS as the first hitter of the game.

“It’s debatable. I look at those scenarios and see if there’s a combination,’’ Farrell said.

Batting Pedroia first also might cut down on some double plays. He is tied for the major league lead with 19, four coming in the first inning. Pedroia has not been a fan of hitting leadoff in the past, preferring to see a few pitches from on deck first.

Betts has never batted third or fourth in the majors and could not recall having done so previously.

“I’ll hit where they tell me to hit,’’ he said. “I think you have to have the same approach no matter what.’’

Holaday time

Bryan Holaday, claimed off waivers from Texas on Friday, joined the Sox on Saturday. The 28-year-old catcher had returned to his home in Fort Worth after being designated for assignment Tuesday.

Holaday expected to get picked up and was grateful to join a contending team.

“Without a doubt. There’s nothing better than playing for a team that’s in contention,’’ he said.

Holaday was with Detroit from 2012-15. He caught Rick Porcello 16 times and David Price once.

“He’s a very good catcher. I was surprised we were able to get him,’’ Porcello said. “He’ll help us.’’

To clear a roster spot for Holaday, the Sox placed Ryan Hanigan on the 15-day disabled list with what the team said was tendinitis in his left ankle.

Sandy Leon has essentially become the everyday catcher. Saturday was the sixth time he has started in eight games.

Price is starting Sunday and Farrell seems inclined to stick with Leon.

“There would be no hesitation for Bryan to handle David,’’ he said. “But, the way Sandy is playing and Monday being an off day, it’s hard not to turn to him right now.’’

Scully tribute

Before the game, the Red Sox presented legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully with a framed cover of the program from the 1949 football game between Maryland and Boston University played at Fenway Park.

That game was the first called by Scully, who delights in telling the story how he wasn’t assigned a booth and instead walked back and forth along the roof in inclement weather.

That led to Scully, at age 22, being named a Dodgers radio broadcaster in 1950, replacing Ernie Harwell.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, radio voice Joe Castiglione, and NESN play-by-play man Dave O’Brien presented Scully with the program.

Pedroia progressing

Pedroia, who left Friday night’s game with a deep bruise on his left shin, did not play but was available in a pinch-hitting capacity and should return to the lineup Sunday. Pedroia fouled a ball off his leg in the third inning . . . The Dodgers will start righthander Brandon McCarthy on Sunday, not lefthander Rich Hill as they had hoped. Hill tried throwing on Saturday and still had issues with a blister on his middle finger. McCarthy is 2-2 with a 2.76 earned run average in six starts. He lasted only seven innings in his last two starts and allowed five earned runs.

Numbers game

Lefthanded reliever Fern­ando Abad asked for No. 58, which he wore in Minnesota, Washington, and Houston. Bullpen coach Dana LeVangie now has No. 58. Holaday was given No. 43 . . . The Red Sox released lefthanded reliever Tommy Layne, who was designated for assignment Tuesday . . . Celtics guard Marcus Smart was at the game wearing a Red Sox jersey . . . The Dodgers placed righthander Bud Norris on the disabled list with back strain. That opened a roster spot for righthander Ross Stripling, who was recalled from Triple A to start the game.

Moncada injured

Double A second baseman Yoan Moncada sprained his left ankle sliding into third base Friday night and is expected to be out at least a week, according to Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Moncada is a candidate for the big league roster, but has yet to play games anywhere other than at second . . . It is likely catcher/outfielder Blake Swihart will need season-ending surgery on his badly sprained left ankle. Swihart recently sought a second opinion from a specialist. “The next step, I can’t say that he wouldn’t be looking at some kind of repair,’’ Farrell said . . . Chris Young will test his strained right hamstring by running the bases again Sunday. That will determine when he starts a minor league rehab assignment . . . Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 3 and is 2 for 9 since being called up.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com.