The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t call up a single outfielder among their September roster moves, despite their current group being among the least productive in all of baseball. Instead, they opted to activate two catchers, one of whom isn’t expected to catch, and infielder Alex Freeland. Freeland got the nod at second base on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals and is likely to play there against right-handed pitchers for the foreseeable future. This means Tommy Edman is heading to center field, while Alek Thomas was optioned to Triple-A.
Teoscar Hernández: The Bet That Could Make or Break Everything
Talk of potentially platooning Teoscar Hernández has been tabled, at least for now, which is a HUGE gamble. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts put it plain and simple Tuesday: “We didn’t bring up an outfielder. That’s part of the bet on Teo, that he can right the ship. That’s kind of where we’re at, but obviously we can pivot if it makes sense.” Hernández and Kyle Tucker have been flat-out struggling this season. They’re both below average on offense and barely above replacement level even when you factor in their defense. To give you the ugly truth, Dodgers right fielders rank a dismal 20th among 30 MLB teams in FanGraphs WAR with a measly 0.7, and 17th in wRC+ at 95. Left field isn’t much better, sitting at 22nd in WAR with 1.2 and 15th in wRC+ at 98.
Hernández’s numbers tell the story: he’s hitting .273/.354/.455 with a 123 wRC+ against lefties, which is fine, but a brutal .239/.295/.373 with an 85 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. This is a 33-year-old dude who started 33 postseason games for the Dodgers over the last two years, hitting a combined .254/.327/.454 with eight home runs, a team-leading 25 RBI, and a 117 wRC+. Roberts is banking on Hernández finding that past form. “I do tend to give guys more leash, given what they’ve done, and looking at how they can handle a big moment in the postseason, that’s important,” Roberts said. “Every day is a test, and you’ve got to keep evaluating. I expect as the calendar has turned, the intensity to ramp up even more.” It’s clear Roberts expects a big turnaround from Teoscar, and fast.
Catching Chaos: Rushing’s New Role
On the catching front, Will Smith started Tuesday and is slated to start Thursday against St. Louis as they ease him back in. Hunter Feduccia will handle catching duties on Wednesday. The big story here is Dalton Rushing, who has been working through a throwing program to rehab his partially torn UCL. It’s still super unlikely he’ll catch again this season. Roberts wasn’t shy about it, saying, “I’m not quite there on being totally bullish on him getting back. I think it would be just great if we can get him there, and I like where his head is at. He’s working hard to get there, but the controlled rehab is different than a snap throw and throwing a guy out at second base.” What the Dodgers actually want from Rushing in September is a left-handed bat off the bench. Roberts even called any time Rushing pinch-hits a “three-person move,” meaning he’ll come in to hit, then immediately be replaced.
So, the Dodgers are rolling with what they’ve got, placing a massive bet on Hernández to rediscover his swing. Can he deliver when the intensity ramps up, as Roberts expects? They face the Cardinals again soon. All eyes are on that outfield.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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