The Los Angeles Dodgers are taking decisive steps to confront a weakness that has lingered all season: inconsistent outfield production. Manager Dave Roberts sent a clear message Sunday when he benched Teoscar Hernández ahead of the team’s matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving Alex Call an opportunity in right field.
“He’s an everyday guy, but I do think that where we’re at, you’ve got to perform, too, to warrant being out there every single day, regardless, right?” Roberts said.
Hernández, who has started nearly every game he’s been healthy for this year, struggled in two consecutive hitless games against the Diamondbacks, prompting the move. Left fielder Michael Conforto has faced similar scrutiny amid the team’s offensive struggles, with Roberts confirming that the same performance standards apply across the roster.
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“Yeah, it does,” Roberts said when asked if the message applied to Conforto. “No one is going to be exempt. No one. I just think that we’ve got to play the best players and that’s just the way it should be, right?”
While Roberts clarified that his stars—Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts—remain untouchable, the overall point was clear: performance, not reputation, dictates playing time. “Obviously Shohei is going to be playing. Mookie is going to be playing. But the point being is, we’ve got to ramp it up and we’ve got to be better. If some other guys deserve more opportunities, then they’re going to get them. That’s just the way it should be,” Roberts added.
Sunday’s decision paid immediate dividends. Call scored one of the Dodgers’ five runs in a big win that helped the defending NL West champions expand their lead over the San Diego Padres. It was also a reminder that the Dodgers’ outfield situation has been far from ideal this season. Conforto, in particular, has struggled offensively and defensively, hitting just .103 across his first 119 games with Los Angeles and ranking in the seventh percentile in Outs Above Average. Hernández’s performance has also been subpar, with a .211 batting average in August and defensive metrics in only the second percentile.
Roberts’ willingness to make adjustments reflects a broader push for accountability as the Dodgers enter the season’s final stretch. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted that the return of key injured players could further jeopardize Conforto’s spot in the lineup. “The pending returns of the injured players will jeopardize the roster spot of Michael Conforto, whom the Dodgers signed last offseason to a one-year, $17 million contract,” Rosenthal wrote.
Those returning players, including Hyeseong Kim, Tommy Edman and Kike Hernández, are currently on rehab assignments in Triple-A but are expected back soon, potentially adding depth and production in left field. Roberts highlighted their versatility: “Obviously we know Hyeseong can play second base. We know he can play shortstop. So just seeing him out in left field, I think that just potentially gives us a little bit more options.”
Midseason call-up Alex Call has already contributed with a .847 OPS since joining the Dodgers, though he has not yet played every game. With the team tied for first in the NL West and heading into key matchups, Roberts’ approach signals that opportunities will go to those who can deliver consistently, while underperformers may see the bench.
As the Dodgers push toward the postseason, the message is clear: production matters, reputations matter less, and the team’s depth will be tested as it tries to maintain its lead in the division.