Dave Roberts 'challenged' Teoscar Hernandez with lineup change

Teoscar Hernández struggled through much of the 2026 season after a disappointing 2025. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts continued giving veteran players opportunities instead of making quick changes. Roberts kept Hernández in the lineup, citing his hard work and strong left-field defense, and dropped him to let the game come to him and reduce pressure. Hernández responded by becoming the club’s best hitter, raising his batting line from .238/.317/.365 to .474/.500/.789 after the move. Roberts said the change was meant to provide more consistent at-bats. Hernández produced multiple multi-hit games, extra-base hits, and his first home run in a month, while the lineup performed better overall during the same period.

"“I just think for me, he's working hard, he's playing very good defense out there in left field, and I want him in the lineup,” Roberts said on May 11. “I want to give him the opportunity, as he's earned, to continue to work through things.”"

"Because of that mindset, Roberts dropped Hernández in the Dodgers' lineup to “let the game come to him” and take some pressure off the veteran outfielder. Before that, Hernández was hitting .238/.317/.365 throughout the season, but since he was dropped down in the lineup, Hernández has been the best hitter on the club, batting .474/.500/.789."

"“He certainly responded really well,” Roberts said. “That wasn't my plan, initially, to have him hit eighth. I just felt the way things were going, the way he was going, I thought it needed to be done. You can look at it different ways; as a challenge, or giving him a different look. However he took it, he's responded well and knows that I always have his and everyone's best interest at heart. But we needed him to be better and have more consistent at-bats. He's doing that right now.”"

"Hernández has only spent two games in the eighth spot out of the five games played since being moved down, but something seemed to click for him, whether it was mentally getting reset or unlocking something with his mechanics. He's posted four multi-hit games with four extra-base hits, including his first home run in a month. It's also no coincidence the Dodgers' lineup as a whole has been better during that time."

Read at Dodger Blue