With the 2026 All-Star Game behind us, it’s time to gear up for the second half of the season.

That said, the first half was full of ups and downs for the Boys in Blue, but they hit the break with an MLB-best record of 61-36.

We here at Dodgers Nation asked fans to help us put together our list of the best moments.

Check out some of our favorite responses below, and let us know if we missed anything!

1. Miguel Rojas’ epic throw

Let’s start with an electric defensive highlight that Lysa Stone summed up nicely: “Miggy throw, Freddie split.”

On June 5 in the Freeway Series, a hard-hit ground ball ricocheted off of Roki Sasaki’s glove.

Fortunately, Miggy Ro was there to barehand the ball and get it to first baseman Freddie Freeman, who was in a full split, narrowly beating the runner.

The Angels runner was initially called safe, though Rojas’ incredible play was confirmed to be an out upon review.

As Jorge Aleman described it, “Play of The Year!!!”

2. Teoscar Hernandez’s game-winning grand slam

Mike Shippey nominated this one: “Teo’s GS against the Pads on July 3rd was pretty sweet.”

Mike, “pretty sweet” might be an understatement.

On July 3, the Dodgers were in a 3-0 hole to the San Diego Padres.

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Fortunately, with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, Teo Hernandez stepped up and homered to left center field, flipping the game on its head and leading to a Dodgers win.

As Brent Schneider noted, that’s just one of several come-from-behind wins against the Padres this season, providing several results for Dodgers fans to savor.

3. Vesia’s save in front of the nurses

Shoutout to Joe Collins for bringing up this emotional moment.

On April 14, Alex Vesia recorded a save in a 2-1 win over the New York Mets with three ninth-inning strikeouts on just 10 pitches, but that’s far from the best part of the night.

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Vesia and his wife, Kayla, lost their daughter during the 2025 World Series run, and for this game, the Vesias invited a few dozen healthcare workers who’d cared for their family to take in Dodger Stadium.

After the game, SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson pointed out the caregivers’ suite to Vesia.

That wave he shared with them was a moment not to be forgotten.

4. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s nearly perfect game

This one was nominated by X user @yestosehunn: On June 13, Yoshinobu Yamamoto took a perfect game into the eighth inning and a no-hitter into the ninth.

A bobbled ball by Mookie Betts with two outs in the eighth inning and a solo homer in the ninth were all that stood between Yama and history, though the game was well in hand by that point.

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With the near-miss performance, it seems like it could be a matter of time until Yamamoto earns that no-hitter.

As an honorable mention, we have to include Yama’s dominant performance against the Toronto Blue Jays after his World Series MVP performance last year, an achievement noted by both Daniel Schneider and Damien Garrett.

5. Dalton Rushing responds to controversy with walkoff hit

Dalton Rushing may be the Dodgers’ lightning rod this season, but amid all the confrontations with other teams and a public spat with Shohei Ohtani, he’s still a fantastic catcher and hitter.

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In the Dodgers first extra-innings game of the year, Rushing was the hero with an 11th inning RBI single.

“Rush getting that walk off after all the controversy. Feels good,” Jose Ortega said.

And an honorable mention here: Rushing’s first MLB grand slam against the New York Mets on April 15.

What did we miss?

There’s so much we didn’t even get to with this list, moments like Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts each hitting their 300th home runs, Max Muncy’s greatness and more.

Let us know what you wish we had included and perhaps we’ll have to put together a Part 2 before the regular season resumes.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith has missed more than a month of the season so far, with what was thought to be a minor neck issue turning into a lingering problem.

Naturally, many Dodgers fans are worried about the World Series hero and are hoping for a quick return from injury, which has been diagnosed as disc inflammation.

For some, though, that hope is turning to despair, with some online baselessly speculating that Smith is going to miss the rest of the season.

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Alternatively, others are posting old videos of Smith working out, implying that he’s progressing quickly in his recovery when he actually was doing those exercises during spring training in 2025.

So what’s the truth?

Will Smith is progressing, but not quickly

Smith is making some progress, with Jack Harris of the California Post noting that as of July 3, he had begun hitting in the batting cages adn throwing a bit as well.

That said, those activities are a far cry from a return to action.

Once Smith recovers enough to face live pitching and resume catching again, he’ll still have to go on a rehab assignment.

The longer this injury takes to heal, the longer the rehab assignment.

That’s why earlier this week, manager Dave Roberts provided a measured update on his star catcher’s return.

“I still don’t see him doing anything that’s considerable in the sense of, you know, return to play,” Roberts said.

“Hesitant to put any type of timeline on it, but certainly expect him back this year. Just have no idea when.”

How did Will Smith get hurt?

Shortly after he began missing time, Smith revealed that the neck pain started small before worsening.

“It’s been a long few days,” Smith said during the early days of the injury.

“It happened in Arizona, played on it a couple days, played on it at home (last Friday), and then just that third or fourth day, I kind of felt it was just getting a lot worse. Couldn’t play that day.

“It’s one of those things we thought was going to get a little better in a couple days. It’s just taking a little bit longer.”

Exactly how much longer that will be remains to be seen.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, following a good deal of fan demand, finally announced a bobblehead honoring Andy Pages’ iconic World Series Game 7 catch.

The Dodgers have one of the best, if not the best, bobblehead promotions every year, but this one holds special meaning for fans who took in the World Series.

Coined “The Catch” bobblehead, it will be given to fans on September 6th against the Washington National.

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The bobblehead captures the moment where Andy Pages rises up for a catch on a fly ball in between left and center field, while Kike Hernandez ducks under and lets him make the catch.

Both players had a big collision, but Hernandez took the brunt of it. Hernandez got up happy after finding out Pages made the catch.

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In the collectible, Hernandez looks quite funny as he seemingly accepts getting run over by Pages, and honestly, it is not too dissimilar from how the moment actually happened.

The play is already incredible from Pages in any context, but with the context of it being Game 7 of a World Series, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, the moment takes on its own legend.

It was all the more special since Pages had been in an awful slump, failing to hit any pitch that came his way. He came in as a defensive substitute late in the game and pulled out a gutsy, iconic, and terrifying catch all in one go.

How much will “The Catch” bobblehead be worth?

Based on recent bobbleheads, this collectible should end up going past $100. Kike Hernandez’s pitching bobblehead, which came out very recently, resells for around $75.

“The Catch,” considering everything about the moment and what it means in modern Dodgers history, should blow well past that.

It does not have the mainstream appeal of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Yoshi bobblehead, which goes for $170, but for any hardcore Dodgers fan, “The Catch” bobblehead is a must-have and will be in demand.

The get-in price is around $165 as of Wednesday, July 15th.

Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Justin Wrobleski pitched two innings in the All-Star game, raising some eyebrows with his performance.

Wrobleski had five strikeouts, but he made one mistake, leading to his only run allowed, which came on a home run to former Dodgers Miguel Vargas.

However, his five punch-outs were good for the most since 1999, when Pedro Martinez got six of his own.

The record, since there are so many pitchers that need a turn, is six, but Wrobleski fell just short. He also tied for the most among Dodgers pitchers at the ASG, alongside two legends, Fernando Valenzuela (1986) and Don Drysdale (1959).

Wrobleski was notably down since he gave up a home run, understandably so since he is a hyper-competitive pitcher, but he did not fail to take it all in, making an unlikely All-Star appearance on his birthday.

“I’m super blessed and lucky to have the chance to do this,” Wrobleski said. “There’s not many guys in history that have had that chance. So pretty cool to play on my birthday. My family’s here. Got to talk to them all day. And yeah, it was super fun.”

Justin Wrobleski’s underdog story

Wrobleski was a journeyman college pitcher, playing at three different schools and undergoing Tommy John surgery months before getting drafted, which dinged him in the pre-draft evaluation.

Additionally, in 2021, he went through a car accident so tragic that it nearly ended his baseball career.

Despite it all, Wrobleski never lost faith.

“For whatever reason, I’ve always believed I could do it,” Wrobleski said.

“Even when it doesn’t look like it’s been something that’s possible, or hasn’t looked like this dream is going to work out, I’ve always had the belief that God’s given me the talent, and I have the ability to be able to do all this stuff. And it’s great to –– not fulfill that –– but prove that I can be really good at the major league level.”

Now, Wrobleski is out to prove himself again and again, showing that a high command pitcher without blowout stuff can still be good in the modern MLB.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp was proud to see his nephew, Josiah Kemp, picked in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Unfortunately for Dodgers fans who want to cheer on the next generation of Kemps, though, the younger player — also an outfielder — was taken by the San Francisco Giants in the 12th round.

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Josiah Kemp was drafted out of Choctaw High School in Oklahoma, and Matt Kemp highlighted the accomplishment on social media with a pair of celebratory emojis.

What has Josiah Kemp’s baseball career been like?

Josiah Kemp had previously signaled that he’d play college baseball at the University of Oklahoma, though a recent check of his social media showed the Giants’ handle in his bio.

Baseball America writer Ben Badler reports that Josiah Kemp, a four-star prospect for college ball, is an “intriguing” pick.

“Simple, contact-oriented swing, athletic CF with good defensive instincts,” Badler wrote.

The three-time MLB All-Star had clearly been following his nephew’s burgeoning baseball career, as he was pictured alongside the youngster at a signing ceremony for the Sooners.

What was Matt Kemp like as a Dodger?

Kemp played 15 years in the big leagues, including those three All-Star campaigns in 2011, 2012 and 2018, all with the Dodgers.

In his first All-Star year in 2011, he came in second in MVP voting and had an 8.0 bWAR, which led the National League.

He also was named a Silver Slugger twice and won the Golden Glove twice, each time with the Boys in Blue.

In his career, he also played for the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.

For his career, he slashed .284/.337/.484/.821 and recorded 1,808 hits, 287 home runs and 1,031 RBIs.

A pioneering catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers has died at the age of 85.

Puerto Rican journalist Hector Marrero broke the news in a Facebook post in Spanish that Héctor Valle had passed away.

Valle played only one season with the Boys in Blue in 1965, but it was an eventful one, as the team took the World Series that year over the Minnesota Twins.

Héctor Valle’s career with the Dodgers

Valle’s role was limited — he appeared in nine games, batting .308/.400/.308/.708 with two RBIs and one run scored. Six of those games he played at catcher, while the other three he served as a pinch hitter.

The bulk of his career was spent in the minors and in Mexico.

His impact was larger than just numbers, though, as he was one of the first Puerto Rican catchers to play in the majors.

“Baseball in Puerto Rico is mourning the passing of Puerto Rican catcher Hector Valle… one of the most beloved, admired, and accessible ballplayers to his fans,” Marrero wrote, as detailed by Matt Connolly of Mass Live. “I had the privilege of interviewing him and visiting him on several occasions at his residence in Joyuda. He showed me newspaper clippings, photos, and awards, including the silver glove. I still have photos of everything and recordings of the interviews.

“Hector was very friendly, humble, and accessible to all his fans. During the interview, he spoke about his memory for remembering pitches and knowing what the opponents couldn’t hit. He even told me about various players and what made them strike out or miss. We spent a wonderful, unforgettable time laughing together.”

Puerto Rico’s impact on the current Dodgers dynasty

It’s quite possible this current golden era of the Dodgers wouldn’t have happened without Valle blazing the trail.

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One of the most impactful players during this run is utility player Kiké Hernández. Among his playoff moments is the double play that ended Game 6 of the 2025 World Series.

And he was instrumental in bringing over star closer Edwin Diaz. Once he returns from injury, Diaz could be key to the three-peat.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were swept for the first time all season long just before the All-Star break by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Dodgers have looked like a shell of themselves over the last three games, seemingly suffering from a lack of focus with the All-Star break so close.

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Also, LA is ahead in the division by more than 10 games, giving them a cushion to breathe and not push too hard.

On Sunday, the Dodgers took a 5-3 loss despite leading for most of the game, until two bad innings of errant pitching and defensive mistakes.

The Dodgers have definitely made the most of their lead, taking their foot off the gas to lose 23-8 combined against Arizona.

What has gone wrong for the Dodgers?

Just about everything that can go wrong has for the Dodgers during their last series of the first half of the season.

The Dodgers made multiple errors during the series, and the pitching was lackluster from both the bullpen and the rotation, while the offense failed to put together sustained stretches of offense.

Andy Pages made an error that he usually never makes on a fly ball, while Max Muncy has continued a stretch where he makes the wrong read defensively.

The team had three hits on Sunday and six on Saturday, with most of the runs coming from home runs rather than the sustained pressure the team usually applies.

Among other strengths, the Dodgers have been really good at moving on from bad games — the main reason for their lack of sweep up until now — but for the first time all year, they failed to get past a rough game or two.

Who played well for the Dodgers?

Shohei Ohtani, even with some knee discomfort lingering in the background, had a good series.

He hit two home runs, went four-for-11 from the plate, and looked good swinging the bat and making plate appearances.

Additionally, Emmet Sheehan had a good start, allowing just one earned run in a 5.1 innings-pitched start. He got seven strikeouts, allowed one walk, and allowed only three hits.

The Dodgers do not play a game until Friday, when they host the New York Yankees in a blockbuster series.

They will need this week to get things ironed out, reset, and get healthy for the big sprint in the second part of July.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is getting treatment for his left knee after a good deal of discomfort led the team to play it safe and pull him from his last scheduled start before the All-Star break.

Ohtani has a history of knee problems, having been born with a bipartite patella, which led to him having surgery back in 2019.

One of the symptoms of the condition is dealing with inflammation or irritation at times. The surgery was meant to end any issues with the left knee related to the condition, but similar symptoms have arisen.

This time, Ohtani will not undergo full-blown surgery; rather, he will undergo treatment, according to the Dodgers.

After Sunday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ohtani is set to have his knee drained to remove any built-up fluid, then receive a pain-relieving injection.

“He’s been managing this quite well, the knee,” manager Dave Roberts said. “So if there’s a chance that we could kind of be proactive and get it drained and do whatever we need to do to try to manage it, along with the rest for the All-Star break, we were going to do that.”

What is the plan for Ohtani after the treatment?

Despite making the All-Star Game, Ohtani will not play; in fact, he won’t even travel, so he can get right back to pitching regularly following the All-Star break.

“The goal is to be able to throw according to regular schedule,” Ohtani said. “Although I could’ve started today, it would’ve still been pushing the envelope a little bit. But my every intention is to use the off days to make sure I’m in a good place to be able to be in the rotation.”

As the season progresses, fans should expect the Dodgers to be careful now that the postseason will be getting ever closer.

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For someone who plays so often, at such a high level, that kind of usage begets a certain level of care.

“I think we all know with where we’re at, who he is as a player, if there’s opportunities to be extra cautious and mindful, it’s just prudent.”