The umpire crew for the highly anticipated Dodgers vs. Braves NLDS has been announced, and James Hoye will be leading the charge as crew chief. This isn’t Hoye’s first rodeo by a long shot, marking his 18th career postseason series, having started umpiring in the majors back in 2003.
James Hoye’s Deep Postseason Resume
When it comes to big games, Hoye has serious history with the Dodgers, a detail that always gets noticed. He’s been an umpire for three separate Dodgers NLCS appearances: in 2020 and 2021, both against the Braves, and then again in 2025 versus the Milwaukee Brewers. So, this isn’t just a random assignment, this guy knows the pressure cooker of the NL postseason.
The Six-Man Crew And Game 1 Assignments
For postseason series like the NLDS, the umpiring crews beef up from the standard four to six umpires. That means you get extra eyes in left field and right field, augmenting the usual infield four. Game 1 kicks off on Saturday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, and here’s who’s where for the opener:
* **Home plate:** Roberto Ortiz
* **First base:** Chris Guccione
* **Second base:** James Hoye
* **Third base:** Tripp Gibson
* **Left field:** Jim Wolf
* **Right field:** Mike Estabrook
Who Calls Home Plate And Who Sits Out
One of the interesting things about these expanded crews is how they rotate. The umpires switch positions throughout the series, so if the Dodgers vs. Braves goes the full five games, five different umpires will have worked behind home plate. That’s a lot of different strike zones and perspectives over a crucial series.
But there’s always one odd man out, right? In this crew, Mike Estabrook is the only umpire without a potential home plate assignment across the series. He’s starting in right field for Game 1, and that’s where his action will stay. Meanwhile, keeping an eye on things from New York, the Division Series replay officials for all four series include Marvin Hudson, Dan Iassogna, Malachi Moore, and Mike Muchlinski.
It’s all set up for Game 1 on Saturday, and with these crews locked in, every call will be under the microscope as these teams battle it out.
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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