Dave Roberts Weighs In on ABS and Its Impact on Batters Amid Dodgers' 2026 Season

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts discussed the new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System that has been implemented for the 2026 season.

"I like it," Roberts said during a Thursday appearance on the Dan Patrick Show (0:03 mark). "I think it's good. It might be a little bit too perfect in the sense of a centimeter changes a call, but I do think that the umpiring is getting better. And I think that that's whether they agree with it or not, because no one wants to be embarrassed. And so they bear down more and I think that's better for the game."

He also revealed that ABS has helped his team at the plate.

"It's also helped our hitters really understanding the hitting zone, the strike zone," Roberts said (1:01 mark). "They're more in tune with it now."

Dodgers batters have won 50 percent of their ABS challenges this season, ranking No. 12 among all MLB teams.

Los Angeles has started its quest for a third consecutive World Series title on a high note, sitting at 9-3 to open the 2026 campaign.