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Dave Roberts understands why Logan Webb may have hit Daulton Rushing with a pitch.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts responded after San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb hit catcher Dalton Rushing with a pitch.

During the sixth inning of Thursday’s game between the Dodgers and Giants, which the Dodgers won 3-0, Webb drilled Rushing in the side with a 93 mph fastball, potentially in retaliation for something that happened two days earlier. Webb was not ejected from the game by the umpires, but afterwards, Roberts said he had a feeling the beaning was intentional.

During Tuesday’s game between the Dodgers and Giants, outfielder Jung Hoo Lee awkwardly slid home and was tagged out at the plate by Rushing. Despite potentially injuring himself on the play, Rushing was caught by lip readers muttering an expletive about Lee.

On Thursday, Webb got some revenge for his teammate when he beaned Rushing on the side. When asked by reporters if he felt the HBP was done purposely, Roberts told Dodgers reporter Katie Woo that he did feel like it was intentional, though he understood why Webb did it.

“It probably was (intentional), and, for me, (Rushing) said what he said. I don’t think he meant it too personally. But they see it. Social media catches it. Webby’s an old school guy and he’s protecting his teammates,” Roberts said.

Dalton Rushing Responds After HBP

Rushing himself was asked what he felt about the HBP from Webb following the game. While the catcher said he wasn’t sure if the beaning was intentional, he admitted he deserved it.

“If it was intentional, I’ll take it. I’ll take what I deserve,” Rushing said after the game.

For his part, Webb wasn’t ready to admit the plunking was intentional.

“What thing with Jung Hoo? I didn’t even see that… just a fastball inside,” Webb said.

Dalton Rushing Has Had a Huge Year for the Los Angeles Dodgers

Rushing was drafted by the Dodgers in the 2nd round of the 2022 MLB draft. He then made his big-league debut in 2025, playing 53 games as the backup catcher to Will Smith and winning a World Series ring when the Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays in the Fall Classic.

So far in 2026, Rushing has taken his game to a whole other level. Through his first 10 games played this season, Rushing is batting an outstanding .419 with a ridiculous 1.161 OPS, while adding 7 home runs and 14 RBIs. He has proven to be one of the best young catchers in the game, and at age 25, the Dodgers have a good one on their team for many years to come.

The Dodgers are the best team in baseball, having won the last two World Series trophies, and they have one of the best catching tandems in the game with Rushing and Smith. With superstar hitters like Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and many more on the Dodgers’ roster, anything the team gets from their catchers is just a bonus. It just so happens that both Smith and Rushing are two of the best-hitting backstops in baseball, making this Dodgers team super dangerous from No. 1 to No. 9 in the batting order.