Dodgers Interview: Dave Roberts Updates Media on Emergency Roster Moves
LOS ANGELES — Dodgers fans woke up to a roster curveball this morning, and Dave Roberts met it head on in his pregame presser. Before Game 4, the manager laid out the emergency move that removed once-prized lefty Tanner Scott and added Justin Wrobleski. The update set the tone for a media session centered on health, bullpen plans, and how the club intends to close out the series.
“As I understand it, it was an abscess excision, some type of lower-body minor procedure,” Roberts said. “I don’t know a whole lot about it, to be honest, but I do know he’s recovering well. It took place last night. We’re replacing him with Justin Wrobleski.”
Pressed on the timing, Roberts called it “urgent.” He added, “I think there were signs the evening of the workout. That’s where it first came to light for us. I didn’t even see him. That was more doctor driven, and I got word late that night.”
On the rule implications and whether Scott could reappear later in October, Roberts left a window open. “I wouldn’t close that door. The way the rules are structured, he won’t be available for the CS, but I still feel the World Series, if we’re fortunate enough to get there, he’ll be available.”
The bullpen beyond Scott? Roberts sounded confident. “Very confident in the bullpen. I feel that everyone in the pen is available. You’ll see our best. We’ve got a tough customer. [Cristopher] Sánchez has pitched us tough. It’s velocity and a changeup down below, and we’ve got to get him up. When we start expanding, it plays into his game plan.”
Asked specifically about Blake Snell in a fire-drill role, Roberts shut that down. “No. He wouldn’t be. Certainly the cost [would be too high].”
Roberts also addressed Andy Pages after Wednesday’s in-game pinch-hit. “It was more how he looked at the plate,” he said. “He’s obviously very talented, had a really nice year. For me, the at-bats, the quality, the swings he’s getting off, the uncertainty and the look, his demeanor, all that plays into my decision. He’s back in there tonight. My hope is he comes in fresh and gets back to being the player he is.” He added, “I think he’s been pressing. He’s not exactly synced up mechanically. They’re bullying him with the fastball at the top of the zone. He’s underneath and late and not convicted in his at-bats.”
Defensively, Roberts didn’t pin things on the rookie. “The play in Philly was a tougher play,” he said. “Even last night I felt Muncy should have come up and cut that ball off. It was an error on the center fielder, but I don’t think that was a bad throw.”
Tonight’s starter Tyler Glasnow sits at the center of the plan. “Absolutely this is the moment he’s been looking forward to,” Roberts said. “He’s a very mechanical person, self-admitted, but getting him to the point of being in compete mode and trusting his stuff, knowing he’s the best option out there, this is the moment we’ve been waiting for. I expect him to pitch well and deliver for us.” On first-inning urgency after Philly’s big bats woke up, Roberts added, “It’s important to set the tone. Attack these guys with his four-pitch mix and be aggressive and not run from them. You’ve got to make good pitches. They’re good hitters.”
Strategy-wise, the Dodgers are treating Game 4 like a finish line. “This is a game you go to win,” Roberts said. “You have an off day tomorrow. You exhaust all your resources to win tonight.”
As for whether the club considered pulling Scott from the roster before Game 3, Roberts explained, “I don’t think we knew exactly the extent of it, so to make that preemptive decision, we were probably a little more in flux.”
One last roster clarifier, on availability and tone: “Everyone in the pen is available,” Roberts said. “We’re prepared for tonight. You’ll see our best.”
The message matched the moment. The roster is adjusted, the bullpen lanes are mapped, and the game plan is clear. Now it’s on Glasnow and a reset offense to close the door.
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