Teoscar Hernández delivers game-winner for Dodgers

De Paula takes a seat with veteran Teoscar Hernández at DH and Kyle Tucker in right field to face Cincinnati southpaw Andrew Abbott. The 21-year-old phenom went 0-for-5 out of the leadoff spot on Tuesday and is hitting just .143 (2-for-14) with one homer, three RBI and one steal in five games since being promoted from Double-A Tulsa last week. The fact that he’s hitting some initial turbulence isn’t a surprise at all considering his relative inexperience while facing big-league arms for the first time. He has an extremely bright future ahead of him as an all-around fantasy contributor. The big question is whether he’ll have a spot with Los Angeles once Shohei Ohtani (biceps, knee) is ready to return from the injured list next week.

Hernández had a two-run homer off Rhett Lowder and a walk tonight. Peaking at the right time, he’s hitting .417 with four homers, 18 RBI and nine walks in his last 14 games, taking his OPS from .692 to .766.

Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts noted that it’s just a routine day of rest, as the team didn’t want the 33-year-old outfielder to play in three straight games on the turf in Miami. Josue De Paula will start in his place in left field and bat sixth for the Dodgers on Sunday afternoon.

The homer off Brandon Williamson left his bat at 112.6 mph, his hardest-hit ball since 2024. His previous high this year was 112.2 mph. Finally coming alive at a great time for the Dodgers, Hernández is 13-for-29 with two homers, 11 RBI and two steals in his last eight games.

Hernández’s homer off Framber Valdez broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth. It was his first since Aug. 3. He went 14-for-73 (.192) with three RBI and a 28/4 K/BB in his 22 games in between homers.

He did hit a fly 396 feet to left-center in the ninth, but that wasn’t enough to get out of Comerica. It’s a long shot that they’ll make the move, but the Dodgers have to be at least a little tempted to see if Josue DePaula might be an upgrade in left. Hernández is hitting just .245/.307/.385, and while that’s not a disaster, it makes him a liability while paired with subpar defense.

Hernández has been pinch-hit for multiple times in the past two games and The Athletic’s Katie Woo believes he may sit against right-handed starters for Tommy Edman.
Hernández has hit .209/.258/.357 since returning from the injured list in late June.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is shaking things up by moving Freddie Freeman up to the second spot in the order with Andy Pages following and Tucker in the cleanup spot. Max Muncy and Mookie Betts remain in the middle of the lineup with Teoscar Hernández on the bench.

It appears to be a matchup-based decision with lefty Noah Cameron on the hill for Kansas City. Tucker has shown some real signs of life recently, hitting .298 (14-for-47) with four homers and one steal over his last 15 games. It’ll be Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández in the outfield corners for Los Angeles in this one.

Hernández didn’t get any help tonight, but at least he seems to be coming around. He has two homers in three days and is 12-for-33 with five extra-base hits in his last nine games.