The 2026 season has been a learning experience for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they grapple with the nuances of the ABS challenge system in its first year of implementation in the Majors.
The team has used the system effectively in some areas but has struggled in others, especially in July.
Last month’s performance prompted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to speak with his players about the importance of using the ABS challenge system more effectively.
Roberts came away from those talks more confident that the team can turn things around by the time the postseason arrives.
“Had some good conversations about understanding leverage and the effect that it potentially has on guys if we exhaust them too early and they’re not the right time,” Roberts said. “So I feel like we got a much better handle on it.”
Last month highlighted a lack of sound judgment and a poor understanding of leverage that the Dodgers can exhibit at times when using the ABS challenge system. L.A. won 50% of their challenges, but their reasonable challenge rate was only 57%, roughly 20% below where it was in the prior months.
Their -2.6 overturns versus expected also ranked near the bottom of the league.
Roberts went on to say that the team would be willing to bar a player from challenging, at least at different points in the game, should the need arise.
The Dodgers’ skipper has already had conversations with several players about using challenges more wisely, including Andy Pages. The 25-year-old was partly responsible for the situation that left L.A. without any challenges by the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals on Monday.
The Dodgers have not prohibited Pages from challenging calls, but Roberts said the organization would be willing to do so should he continue to be the leading contributor to L.A.’s challenge struggles.
In his message to Pages and others, Roberts emphasized the importance of weighing the pros and cons of when to challenge.
“I do think that just highlighting it and understanding pluses and minuses, leverage, and really understand consequences, trying to really get a getting clarity on leverage, when the right time you do it,” Roberts said.
ABS challenge system leaderboards
The Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks are the four teams in the majors to rank in the top 10 in challenge win rate on both the batting and fielding leaderboards.
The Dodgers are not far behind, as they currently occupy the No. 6 spot on offense and No. 12 spot on defense. However, much of their success came early in the season, and Roberts believes the team has fallen off since then.
Improving their proficiency on both sides of the ball in time for October would provide a significant edge in high-pressure series.
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