The Los Angeles Dodgers, currently perched atop the National League West, find themselves grappling with a troubling reality as they navigate a rocky stretch of games. Manager Dave Roberts has expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s performance, particularly highlighting the defensive shortcomings that have cost them dearly. In a heart-wrenching 4-2 walk-off loss to the Colorado Rockies, a last-place team, the Dodgers’ defensive lapses proved catastrophic, igniting a firestorm of criticism aimed squarely at outfielder Teoscar Hernández.
Hernández, who has been a fixture in right field this season—starting 100 games—has repeatedly demonstrated defensive frailties. This was glaringly evident in the ninth inning against the Rockies, where a critical error led to two runs slipping away. After the Dodgers built an early 2-0 lead, the situation quickly unraveled. Following a walk, Brenton Doyle hit a blooper that Hernández should have caught, instead allowing the ball to drop and subsequently making an errant throw to third base. “I don’t know if he would’ve had a play on that one,” Roberts remarked, clearly frustrated. “I know it shouldn’t have been second and third. … [Hernández] has got to get better out there. There’s just no [other] way to put it.”
The tension only escalated when, with the game tied in the bottom of the ninth, Hernández misplayed a fly ball from Ezequiel Tovar, allowing the Rockies to seize the opportunity and score the decisive run. “We were playing no-doubles [defense],” Hernández explained, acknowledging the challenges of the expansive outfield. “I was playing pretty far [back]. I tried to make the play. I didn’t. It came off my glove, unfortunately. Things happen. I just have to wash it. This game is over with.”
Despite these blunders, the Dodgers remain on course for the postseason, as they are defending champions and are vying for a coveted playoff bye. However, Hernández’s troubling defensive metrics raise alarm bells about what lies ahead in October. With a dismal defensive outs above average ranking of minus-10 and a fielding percentage of .990, he stands as one of the least effective right fielders among his peers. Yet, Roberts faces a dilemma; Hernández’s offensive production is invaluable. With a .749 OPS and ranking second on the team in both RBIs and home runs, his bat is crucial to the Dodgers’ success.
As Roberts navigates the precarious balance between defense and offense, he made it clear that Hernández will remain a key player in the lineup. “I mean, he’s going to be in the lineup,” he stated. “He’s [due] up third in the top half [of the 10th], so I’m not going to take him out of the game. It’s just one of those things that, the defense is a big part of postseason baseball and winning baseball. So yeah, he’s just got to continue to get better.”
With the postseason looming, the pressure mounts not only on Hernández but on the entire team to elevate their performance. The Dodgers are at a crossroads, and how they address these defensive issues could determine their fate as they seek to defend their title. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the team attempts to shake off this recent malaise and prepare for the challenges that await. The question remains: can the Dodgers shore up their defense in time to make a deep playoff run, or will these mistakes come back to haunt them when it matters most?
