Dodger Outfielder to Get First Start of Season This Weekend
With a star-studded lineup like that of the Los Angeles Dodgers , it’s sometimes hard for players to get significant playing time.
That’s the case for outfielder Alex Call , who thus far in the season has not gotten a chance to start.
That will change this weekend against the Washington Nationals though, as manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Call will certainly start on Sunday and possibly on Saturday as well, as reported by Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times .
“I’m going to start Alex on Sunday,” Roberts told reporters Friday morning. “And then I haven’t decided on tomorrow. So he’ll start on Sunday for sure.”
Who Will Alex Call Replace?
Presumably, Call will play in the outfield, as putting him in as designated hitter would replace superstar Shohei Ohtani .
In the outfield, the options for benching include Teoscar Hernandez , Andy Pages and Kyle Tucker .
Pages has been the team’s best hitter by far coming into the series, making his benching unlikely.
Tucker, a huge free-agent signing in the offseason, is still getting a feel for his new squad, so it seems likely that Hernandez will be benched.
That also would track given his offensive production, as he is 5-for-21 ahead of the series with the Nationals. None of those hits went for extra bases, and he has only one RBI.
Call also could provide a defensive boost. Baseball Savant ranks Hernandez in the sixth percentile of fielding run value.
Call, while still below average, is much higher in the 33rd percentile.
What’s at Stake for Alex Call?
As Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain pointed out before the season , Call could find himself the odd man out in a crowded outfield.
“It’s kind of interesting because Alex Call is an outfielder, and the Dodgers need an outfielder, and they traded for Alex Call,” McKain said. “And a lot of players, they can embrace certain roles with teams, but a lot of players too, they would rather be in situations where you can compete for more playing time. And right now it doesn’t feel like the Dodgers are very interested in giving Alex Call the opportunity to chase a starting role with this team.
“…But I think that from an option standpoint, we’ll see. Because he’s the fourth or fifth outfielder. You got Ryan Ward coming up. You got Michael Siani , who they brought in, who they claimed. And Siani is an elite defender. Ward, a great potential as a bat. What is Call’s ceiling?”
Do you think this weekend could indicate what Alex Call’s future with the Dodgers could be?
