Dave Roberts Talks Injuries, Lineup Decisions & Pitching Plans Ahead of Dodgers-Diamondbacks Clash
Before the Dodgers take on the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight, manager Dave Roberts met with the media to give updates on the state of his roster—touching on injuries, lineup tweaks, and the mental grind of a long season. As usual, Doc was thoughtful, transparent, and honest about where his club stands right now.
Injury Updates: Cautious Optimism
The good news? Blake Treinen and Tyler Glasnow could both start playing catch again as soon as Sunday, according to Roberts. “Blake is potentially going to start playing catch on Sunday. Tyler is on that same program,” he shared, noting that Glasnow is currently back in L.A.
As for Clayton Kershaw, he’s been battling illness in addition to continuing his recovery, which Roberts said “set him back a couple days,” but he was encouraged by how Kershaw felt afterward.
Tommy Edman, who’s still recovering, remains day-to-day. “We’re going to make sure Tommy’s good, but it’s going to take some time—maybe beyond the next homestand,” Roberts said. That’s opened the door for Hyeseong Kim to get a little more runway with the big club.
On Max Muncy & Michael Conforto: Managing Workload and Slumps
There’s been some frustration among fans over the inconsistent production from Max Muncy and Michael Conforto, but Roberts pushed back on the idea that they’re simply being benched.
“This isn’t about a slump,” he said of Muncy sitting today. “It’s more that he’s started seven or eight games in a row, and I wanted to get CT [Chris Taylor] in there. Max might get another day off this week too.”
As for Conforto, Doc acknowledged the similarities between the two—left-handed bats lower in the order—but said both have been making better contact lately.
“They’re both very good ballplayers… and they’ve been taking much better at-bats recently,” Roberts said. “It still says a lot about our ballclub that we’re in first place and those two guys haven’t really hit their stride yet.”
He added that luck hasn’t been on their side either, saying, “Michael’s been very unlucky lately. Same with Max. But they’re handling it well.”
Evan Phillips, Michael Grove & More Rehab Notes
Roberts was also asked about Evan Phillips, who is dealing with elbow inflammation. There’s no timetable yet, and he likely won’t pick up a ball for a couple more weeks. “We’ve got to be very mindful and cautious with his buildup,” Roberts emphasized.
Meanwhile, Michael Grove and Gavin Stone stopped by the clubhouse this week, which Roberts said was huge for their morale. “It gets monotonous doing the rehab day in and day out. To be around the guys again gives them a little life.”
Pitching Outlook Tonight
Looking ahead to tonight’s game, Roberts said he’ll be paying close attention to how Roki Sasaki settles in early—especially with command.
“I think once we get to about 75 pitches, I’ll be very watchful on where the stuff is and where the command is,” he said. “That’s where I’ll know if fatigue is starting to show.”
Bottom Line:
The Dodgers continue to stay afloat at the top of the NL West despite injuries and a few slumping bats. With reinforcements like Treinen, Glasnow, and Edman slowly trending in the right direction, and veterans like Muncy and Conforto grinding through it, the focus remains steady: stay healthy, stay sharp, and keep winning.
