Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will miss Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox to attend his daughter’s graduation from Stanford, per David Vassegh.
Roberts last missed a game for the Dodgers last season, when he served a one-game suspension following LA’s benches-clearing brawl against the San Diego Padres. Bench coach Danny Lehmann stepped in for him during the following game, and will likely do the same against the White Sox.
The Dodgers return home for the following day to face the Tampa Bay Rays, and Roberts will likely return for the beginning of that series.
Roberts has led the Dodgers to a 43-25 record so far this season, which gives them the second-highest win total in MLB, only behind the Atlanta Braves. While they’ll certainly miss him, the Dodgers will be in good hands.
Who is Danny Lehmann?
Lehmann has been the Dodgers’ bench coach since 2023, but has been with the organization far longer than that. He joined the team in 2015 following the conclusion of his playing career, initially serving as an advanced video scout.
He maintained that position for three years, earning a promotion to become the Dodgers’ game planning and communications coach in 2018. Lehmann served as a special assistant in 2019 before returning to his game planning role the following year.
Lehmann last served as the Dodgers manager on June 20, 2025, and he coached the team to a 6-5 win over the Washington Nationals.
Plenty of MLB teams have reached out to Lehmann for vacant managerial spots, most recently during the 2025 offseason.
“Lehmann’s name recently surfaced in connection with the Braves’ managerial vacancy, and he received interest from the White Sox in their managerial search last offseason before Chicago hired Will Venable,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Mark Polishuk wrote in Oct. 2025.
The Dodgers will hope they can close out a series against a promising White Sox squad on a positive note under Lehmann’s guidance.
Are you confident in the Dodgers on Sunday despite Dave Roberts’ absence?
