Alex Call Earns More Dodgers Playing Time as Hernández Slumps
alex call has earned more playing time for the Los Angeles Dodgers as Teoscar Hernández’s early-season slump keeps reshaping the outfield mix. Dave Roberts said Call’s case has grown while Hernández’s timing and production have slipped, and the Dodgers have fallen to second place in the National League West.
Call Pushes Into The Mix
“Alex has earned more playing time, yeah,” Roberts said, putting Call’s role at the center of a lineup fight that has sharpened during the 2026 season. The Dodgers brought in All-Star Kyle Tucker, but the offense has not stayed steady from one game to the next.
That inconsistency has opened the door for Call. Roberts’ comment points to a real change in how the Dodgers may distribute outfield at-bats, with Hernández no longer locked into the same workload if the results do not improve.
Hernández’s Numbers Slip
Hernández has hit.248 with four home runs and 17 runs batted in this season, an output that has made this his worst year as a Dodger. His.709 OPS reflects how far the production has dropped from where the club has needed it to be.
Roberts said, “I do see certainly his timing is off,” then laid out the problems in more detail. “I think one thing is he hasn’t hit lefties like he has in the past. That’s one thing. He’s certainly missing pitches that he should hit. He’s fouling them off whether they’re spin or fastballs. I think he’s a little too passive at times, getting behind a lot early. It’s hard to hit 0-1. So I think the mechanical piece, the approach piece, there’s things that I know he’s trying to figure out.”
Dodgers Lineup Pressure
The Dodgers’ offense has been in a brutal slump early in the 2026 season, and that drop has left little room for extended patience. Hernández has acknowledged the struggles himself, saying, “It’s been inconsistent” and, “Sometimes the timing is there. Sometimes it doesn’t. Like I always say,” while trying to work his way out of it.
For the Dodgers, the immediate consequence is simple: Call has moved into a stronger position, and Hernández could sit more often if the problems at the plate continue. With the team already stuck in second place in the National League West, every regular at-bat now carries more weight in a lineup that still has not settled.
