LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers did not call up an outfielder among their September call ups despite their current group being among the least productive in the sport. They did however activate two catchers, one who isn’t expected to catch, and infielder Alex Freeland.
Freeland plays second base on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, and will likely do so against right-handed pitchers for the time being. That moves Tommy Edman to center field, with Alek Thomas getting optioned to Triple-A in Tuesday’s
roster moves. Edman likely won’t be playing any left field, as talk of potentially platooning Teoscar Hernández has been tabled, at least for the time being.
“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,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday. “But obviously we can pivot if it makes sense.”
Hernández and Kyle Tucker have struggled mightily this season, both below average on offense and just above replacement level when factoring in defense. Dodgers right fielders rank 20th among 30 MLB teams in FanGraphs WAR (0.7), and 17th in wRC+ (95), and in left field are 22nd in WAR (1.2) and 15th in wRC+ (98).
Hernández is hitting .273/.354/.455 with a 123 wRC+ against southpaws this season and just .239/.295/.373 with an 85 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. He also started 33 postseason games with the Dodgers the last two years, hitting a combined .254/.327/.454 with eight home runs, a team-leading 25 RBI and a 117 wRC+. The Dodgers are betting on the 33-year-old Hernández to find something closer to his recent norms.
“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.”
Catching plans
Will Smith starts Tuesday and will start Thursday as well against St. Louis as they ease him back in. Hunter Feduccia will catch on Wednesday. Dalton Rushing has been working on a throwing program in rehabbing his partially torn UCL, though it remains unlikely that he catches again this season.
“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,” Roberts said. “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 want out of Rushing in September is a left-handed bat off the bench. Roberts called any time Rushing will pinch-hit a “three-person move,” as Rushing will pinch-hit and then be replaced on the field by another player. It’s not a role Rushing is used to, as he has two singles in 14 at-bats plus three walks as a pinch-hitter in his two seasons in the majors. He only pinch-hit once in his four minor league seasons, getting hit by a pitch in a pinch for Double-A Tulsa in 2023.
“He hasn’t done this much at all, but I also think he’s a threat. He can hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Roberts said. “Hit the ball out of the ballpark, it’s a simple swing, and he can take a walk. I think there’s something to that threat.”
Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment by the Dodgers to facilitate Smith’s return. General manager Brandon Gomes delivered the news to Rortvedt on Monday.
“Ben’s a great teammate, he’s a major league player,” Roberts said. “And I’ll always be grateful because he helped us win a championship last year. Great guy.”
