Dave Roberts said Kyle Tucker had corrected his bat path and gained confidence after a breakthrough over the previous two days on September 11, 2026.
Roberts said Tucker had provided a spark for the Los Angeles Dodgers and built confidence with a big night after about a month in a difficult stretch. “The last couple nights it's been fun to watch Kyle uh build some confidence,” Roberts said. He credited Tucker for continuing to persevere and said the improvement appeared to happen almost overnight, although changes of that type typically take 15 to 20 at-bats to produce results.
Roberts explained that Tucker’s swing path was helping him remain in the hitting zone longer and handle pitches better. “He's cleaned up his path, his bat path, and uh he's staying in the hitting zone a lot longer,” he stated. Roberts added that he generally does not discuss mechanics often, but viewed them as especially relevant to Tucker’s progress. He also credited the Dodgers hitting coach with unlocking something for Tucker.
Roberts said Blake was expected to pitch on regular rest for the next start, while noting that Blake was not pushed too far in the game. “He's probably going to go on regular the next time,” Roberts said.
The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Eric Lauer on the 60-day injured list, a decision Roberts attributed to the club’s inability to build him up enough to start within the remaining calendar. Roberts noted that Lauer was in the middle of a throwing program and was trending positively, but said the Dodgers were set in the bullpen and needed starter-type depth from him.
Roberts will proceed with Blake’s planned regular-rest start, while Lauer remains on the 60-day injured list as the Dodgers assess his ability to provide starter depth.