Dodgers Interview: Dave Roberts on Wrobleski’s Progress, Tanner Scott’s Slider, and Edwin Diaz’s WBC Departure

CAMELBACK RANCH, AZ — Dave Roberts is using spring training the way it’s supposed to be used — bank the work, note progress, and keep guys moving toward March. All without turning every inning into a referendum. After Saturday’s loss to the Cubs, Roberts’ focus stayed on what the Dodgers needed out of the day: Justin Wrobleski building up, Edwin Díaz and Tanner Scott logging clean frames, and the lineup getting another turn with key regulars still in there.

Pitching Report Card

On Wrobleski, Roberts liked what he saw, even with a first inning that took the scenic route. “Justin looked good,” Roberts said. “Obviously, laborious first inning, the Kevin Alcantara out [was a] long at-bat, but got through that and then efficient in the second one really good. So, he got his work in, pitch counting up, and was solid.”

Roberts also came away pleased with the bullpen segment, starting with Díaz and Scott. “Good. Good,” he said. He noted that Díaz got a little help from the defense. “Edwin was the beneficiary of the double play, the line drive double play,” he said However, he still framed it as a useful day in camp: “Early on camp, getting his work in fine.” With Scott, Roberts put the spotlight where a lot of eyes were already going, especially after Scott’s own honesty about last year. “I thought Tanner threw some good sliders,” Roberts said. “Velocity was fine, but I thought for me the takeaway was I thought his slider was good today.”

Díaz’s Impending Exit

Of course, Díaz’s schedule is about to change fast, with Team Puerto Rico calling. With the evidence that he’s leaving Sunday for the World Baseball Classic, Roberts leaned into the idea that a veteran closer tends to raise his level when the lights get a little brighter. “He’s got a lot of benefit,” Roberts said. “You certainly give a player like that the benefit of the doubt.” Roberts expects the competition to sharpen things while Díaz is away: “Pitching for team Puerto Rico, his focus is going to be amped up. So, you’re going to see him go out there and compete and make pitches.” The Dodgers will take the pitcher they get back, check the readouts, and see how the experience sits with him. “When we get him back, it’ll be interesting to see where he’s at physically and emotionally, but he’s going to be fine,” Roberts said.

Post-Mortem on Scott’s 2025

One of the more interesting side notes in camp has been Scott’s outreach to Orel Hershiser, something Scott has talked about as a real help. When asked if he’d seen any of that interaction, Roberts said he hadn’t witnessed it directly, but he didn’t need much convincing on the value. “I didn’t,” Roberts said. “But I will tell you this is that if Orel can… if Orel can get you here that’s a good thing.” Roberts also emphasized that the door is open for Hershiser to be involved as much as makes sense. “I know that Orel has Mark’s support and whatever, however additive he wants to be.”

Roberts also addressed the quote that followed Scott around last season, the one where Scott said, “Baseball hates me.” Roberts said it registered in real time. “It did actually,” he said. “You never like your players saying something like that. It just speaks to where you’re at mentally.” Roberts described Scott as being in “a very, negative place,” and suggested Scott would prefer he could rewind that moment. “I do think that if he had to do that one over again, he would take that one back,” Roberts said, calling that mindset “a little self-fulfilling.” The more important part for the Dodgers, though, is where Scott is now. Asked if he sees Scott in a better mental space this spring, Roberts answered plainly: “I do. I do.” And he summed up the organizational approach in a way that fits spring: “Encouraging him to kind of learn from last year, building on it, and yeah, it’s a new year.”

Lineup Notes for Sunday

Roberts also offered a quick look at what Sunday’s lineup will include before a couple of pieces shift around. On Will Smith: “I think he’s going to play tomorrow and then he should be out. So tomorrow will be his last game.” Roberts added that Mookie Betts will be in there, too: “Mookie will be in there tomorrow.” And Freddie Freeman is set for a back-to-back: “Freddy back to back tomorrow. Yes.”

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