Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — As Dodgers prepare for their upcoming National League Division Series (NLDS), General Manager Brandon Gomes addressed various key points surrounding the team’s readiness. In a Wednesday interview, Gomes provided insight into the team’s approach, player health updates, and how they’ve learned from past postseason experiences. His comments reflected an overall sense of optimism and preparedness, both in terms of the team’s physical condition and their strategy.
One of the immediate focuses is on the health of key players, specifically Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas, who are progressing well. “Freddy and Miggy are progressing well each day,” Gomes said. “They’re starting to go through some baseball activities, so we’ll keep tracking it, but we’re pretty optimistic at this point.”
Gomes also discussed the team’s approach during the break week leading up to the NLDS, noting that the intensity of their recent games, including their series against the San Diego Padres, played a role in how they’ve managed this time. “We took Monday pretty much off, with the exception of Flaherty, to kind of give us a reset. I do think it’s slightly different with having played incredibly intense games prior to this weekend,” he explained. “It was grinding it out to the very end… it’s just more of a gradual buildup than we’ve done. We’re ramping up intensity more and more as we get closer to the game.”
A key topic was the team’s pitching strategy, given the inconsistency in length from the rotation during the regular season. Gomes emphasized the importance of quality over quantity when it comes to innings pitched. “Length is always better, but we’re focused much more on quality over just a ton of quantity. We have a really talented group who are experienced in the playoffs, and our bullpen is a really, really strong component of this team.”
Regarding the starting rotation, Gomes confirmed that Jack Flaherty will start Game 1, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the mound for Game 2. “We’re planning on Jack in one and Yamamoto in two,” he stated. While the rotation for the remainder of the series has not been finalized, Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin are both still under consideration as they continue to recover from injuries. “So much of it is seeing how those guys continue to progress and then do we see an acute need on our staff.”
Shohei Ohtani’s role in the lineup was another point of discussion. While Ohtani won’t be pitching in the postseason due to his injury, his presence as a designated hitter adds a new dynamic to the Dodgers’ already potent offense. “We don’t anticipate him pitching in the postseason,” Gomes said, “but everything about the postseason is guys performing to their true talent level. Having as many talented players on the roster as possible gives you a better chance.”
When asked about how teams might approach Ohtani in the postseason, Gomes acknowledged the challenge for opponents. “We feel like we have an incredibly deep lineup, so if you don’t attack Shohei, you’re asking for a double a lot of times,” he said, highlighting Ohtani’s ability to make pitchers pay for avoiding him. “You can’t pitch around everyone, and it’s all about how guys are performing in that moment.”
Freddie Freeman’s health is another crucial factor for the Dodgers heading into the NLDS. Despite dealing with an ankle issue, Gomes expressed confidence in Freeman’s ability to contribute. “He’s swinging and hitting well,” he said. “We still have a few days before we play, and there’s not many guys I would bet on more than Freddie when it comes to posting and playing well.” Gomes also confirmed that Freeman will face live pitching at some point this week as part of his preparation.
Looking back at the team’s performance in recent postseasons, Gomes acknowledged that one of the challenges has been dealing with the layoff between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs. “The bye has impacted hitters more than pitchers,” he noted. However, the team is taking steps to ensure that they are fully prepared, utilizing various technologies and strategies to help hitters stay sharp. “We’re structuring our practice and utilizing the different technologies we have, making sure we are fully geared up for what we always see as an uptick in fastball velocity and quality in the postseason.”
As the Dodgers prepare to embark on their postseason journey, Gomes’ comments reflect a team that is not only talented but also unified and focused on the task ahead. With a deep roster, strong bullpen, and key players returning to health, the Dodgers are well-positioned to make a strong run in the NLDS and beyond.
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