LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers took Game 1, 10–5, and Wednesday felt focused, not flashy. Dave Roberts met with reporters before Game 2 and kept the spotlight where it belongs: on preparation, matchups, and letting the game come to them. Most of the conversation centered on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, bullpen choices after a wobbly eighth, and a few lineup decisions. No hype. Just how they plan to back up a series lead.
On Yamamoto’s growth and readiness, Roberts didn’t hesitate. “I think what I learned is he prepares very well, very intentional with his preparation. I learned that the moment isn’t too big for him—any moment. He has the ability to make pitches when he needs to. He always seems like the best option,” Roberts said. He added that the year-over-year leap has been real: “If you’re talking about a player from last year to this year, I’d say he’s number one on the growth chart, considering coming over here, getting his feet wet, learning the culture, the game, the hitters, creating a routine, to then be a really big-game pitcher.”
Questions quickly turned to the bullpen after the stressful eighth in Game 1. Roberts backed his guys while acknowledging the rough edges. “Alex (Vesia) is a guy I’m always going to trust. He’s earned that and just wasn’t particularly sharp last night,” Roberts said. “It was one of the few times we’ve seen Edgardo (Henriquez) lose command and the game sped up in my opinion. And I think Jack (Dreyer) coming into that spot was tough, but I like the way he settled in and continued to make pitches against Stevenson to then ultimately punch him and get the pop-up from Ke’Bryan (Hayes).” He called it a teachable moment: “It was a good lesson for them, more so for Henriquez and Jack. We learn from things. You learn a lot from that inning.”
The “what if” of pulling a surprise with Shohei Ohtani out of the pen drew a firm line. “I don’t see that happening,” Roberts said.
On the infield, Roberts explained why Miguel Rojas started at second over Tommy Edman, who homered in Game 1. “It was more of the ankle,” he said. “Tommy’s been trying to battle to stay upright. With (Reds starter Zack) Littell, I think he’s a neutral guy. They have a lefty in the pen and (Nick) Martinez is going to be deployed, who’s a reverse guy, so I don’t think there’s much cost. And I feel the defense is enhanced with Miggy.”
Ohtani’s two-homer night invited a bigger-picture question about approach. Roberts described a superstar learning to let October come to him. “Superstars always want to perform on the biggest stage, but you have to let the game come to you,” he said. “Last year early on, I felt there was a little more chase and appreciating the fact that teams aren’t going to let him beat them. When you can hone in your chase to get into a count, which he did yesterday, to then get a pitch to hit, that’s the result. He’s had a great September as far as the chase, which has prepared him for the postseason.”
Trust in leverage is fluid this time of year. Roberts didn’t pretend otherwise. “You like them all, you trust them all to various degrees, and in the postseason you have to go with who you feel best in that one spot,” he said. “It’s ever evolving. I can’t be blind to performance and heartbeat and how guys respond to certain situations. It’s a daily conversation with the pitching coaches, the front office, and most importantly what I see.”
Would he push the pen hard to close out Game 2 if a chance presents itself? Roberts framed everything around the starter. “I’d put this game more on Yoshinobu,” he said. “He’s our best pitcher available today. Then you layer in the stress of innings, the pitch count, the swings they’re taking and how his stuff looks to then ask, is there a better option? I wouldn’t probably be too aggressive, and I don’t really know which direction I’m going to go as far as who I deploy.”
Emmet Sheehan’s role continues to develop. Roberts made it clear he was ready last night if needed. “That was the situation where I think Jack had one more hitter and Emmet was going to come into the game. If we needed him, he was going to pitch,” Roberts said. “Fortunately he didn’t have to, which I think is of benefit for tonight.” As for back-to-backs in October: “I’ve had conversations with Emmet and this is the postseason. I say yes. Whatever is called for him, he’s ready and willing to do it.”
Tommy Edman’s status remains active despite the ankle. “He’s available off the bench tonight,” Roberts said. “If there is a Game 3, he’ll play.”
A bigger, esoteric question touched on the changing managerial landscape around the league. Roberts reflected on mentors and continuity. “They were all in different forms mentors and I’ve taken a piece of each one of those guys,” he said. “I’m very grateful for that. I think I’ve grown. I want to grow, get better. They’re great baseball men and they’ve impacted the game in a positive way. I feel that responsibility to keep what they started—make it about the players and the fans and do things the right way.” As for the churn in the chair? “It’s a changing of the guard,” he said. “Some guys have been around a long time and you’re getting some new, younger managers. It’s kind of the circle of life.”
Finally, could the Dodgers bridge a late game with a bulk look if the usual relievers don’t have it? Roberts didn’t rule out a creative finish. “Yes, I would,” he said when asked about six-to-nine outs from someone like Sheehan, Wrobleski, or Roki.
Simple plan for Game 2: ride Yamamoto, adjust as needed, defend the baseball, and use the right arm for the right pocket. The series edge is there. Now it’s about the next 27 outs.
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