Dave Roberts sends heartfelt message to Dodgers’ Kyle Tucker amid disappointing season

Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Kyle Tucker hasn’t looked himself all of 2026.

His struggles seemingly reached their peak Monday night when Tucker was spotted in a visibly emotional dugout moment during the Dodgers’ 11-5 win over the Colorado Rockies. The 29-year-old was hitless in the matchup and dropped a routine shallow fly ball in right field.

But manager Dave Roberts had a heartfelt message for Tucker on Wednesday.

“My message to him is you’re not alone,” Roberts said on MLB Network Radio. “He’s probably never struggled like this in his life.”

Tucker is in the midst of a disappointing first season with the Dodgers, hitting .230 with 11 home runs, 55 RBIs and a .693 OPS. He is the team’s $240 million man, which is why fans have been especially critical of the All-Star.

Despite Tucker’s struggles, Roberts hasn’t lost faith in the outfielder. While there have been calls to rest or demote Tucker, the Dodgers have stuck by their guy and continued to do so Wednesday in Colorado.

Roberts penciled in Tucker for the series finale against the Rockies with left-hander Kyle Freeland on the mound. The Dodgers skipper insisted the move was the best thing he could do for Tucker at this point in the season.

“I think the easy thing for me to do is to not play him. But for me, what I can do, a way of showing support, is by playing him,” Roberts said. “I think he gives us the best chance to win.”

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

While Roberts may believe that is the case, Tucker’s numbers haven’t relayed the same belief. He has accrued a 0.1 bWAR this season.

The Dodgers haven’t been able to pinpoint Tucker’s season-long struggles, but it’s clear the team has continued to show support for the outfielder this year.