Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Pregame interview in the postseason are always a little bit of Kabuki theater. You want to say certain things, but at the same time, you need to play a lot of your strategy close to the vest so you don’t give the opposing dugout time to mull over their responses. So it was today in the media room at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, where Roberts “sort of” let reporters in on his thought process ahead of the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres.
Pitching Strategy
We now know that Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be starting Game 5, but earlier in the day, Roberts was coy about when and how his star righty would be used.
When asked about the pitching plan this afternoon, Roberts stated that Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto would feature in some capacity, but the Dodgers skipper stopped short of naming him the outright starter. “We haven’t finalized it,” Roberts said. “Yamamoto will be a part of it. How we deploy the relievers around him… we’re still kind of talking through it.” Yamamoto is coming off a disappointing Game 1 start, so it’s interesting that Roberts would float his name, and not Jack Flaherty for Game 5, but that all may be part of the gamesmanship prior to first pitch.
Roberts acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding how exactly Yamamoto will be used, explaining that the decision depends on feedback from his pitchers after their pregame routines. “The main variable is seeing our guys go out there today, play catch, see how they feel,” Roberts said, suggesting that his decision would hinge on pitcher availability and health going into the elimination game. He noted that Yamamoto, despite being relatively new to postseason action, remains adaptable. “He’ll do whatever we ask,” Roberts said.
Now, right before Mike Shildt’s bedtime, the Dodgers had a little info dump, announcing at about 10:00 pm that indeed Yamamoto will be the starter.
The uncertainty surrounding Yamamoto’s role might have been tied to the Dodgers’ increasing reliance on their bullpen in the series. Roberts has a wealth of bullpen options, noting, “We have six or seven relievers available, so I feel good about the relief coverage.”
So, there’s an interesting symmetry there. the season began with Yamamoto getting blown up by the Padres in Korea. Now, one of these teams will go home tomorrow night, and the fate of that will lie in part with Yamamoto again.
Yamamoto’s Postseason and Tipping Issues
Yamamoto, despite his talent, has faced struggles in his few starts against the Padres, leading some to speculate that the Friars have picked up on his pitch-tipping tendencies. When asked about whether this issue had been addressed, Roberts expressed confidence in Yamamoto’s adjustments: “I think we’ve cleaned things up… as far as where Yoshinobu is at, I feel really comfortable.” He acknowledged that San Diego’s scouting was sharp, but that the Dodgers had made the necessary adjustments.
One of the key reasons Yamamoto has been hittable, according to Roberts, is a matter of executing his pitching plans. Roberts said that “when he hasn’t commanded the baseball, he hasn’t been really that good.” In situations where Yamamoto nibbles around the strike zone, rather than attacking hitters, his performance dips. “When he’s convicted and ripping it, attacking hitters with his pitch mix, he’s as good as anyone,” Roberts added, showing faith that Yamamoto could still deliver a stellar performance if he pitches with confidence and control.
Injury Updates: Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas
In terms of player availability, Roberts provided key injury updates for Game 5, confirming that first baseman Freddie Freeman is likely to return to the lineup. Freeman missed Game 4 due to an ongoing illness but has responded well to treatment. “I think Freddy’s going to be in there,” Roberts said, noting that Freeman felt better after taking two days off. “He’s feeling better today with treatment, and I feel like tomorrow he’ll be in there.”
However, infielder Miguel Rojas, who has been dealing with a lingering injury, is unlikely to be in the starting lineup. Roberts hinted that Rojas could be available in a pinch-hit role but would not start: “I don’t see Miggy available for Game 5, maybe to pinch hit.”
Rojas’ absence complicates defensive alignments, as he has been a critical component of the infield. Roberts confirmed that Tommy Edman would likely take over at shortstop, and the team is still figuring out its outfield setup, particularly in center field. “Correct,” Roberts responded when asked if Edman would start, but declined to share who would play in center, though he confirmed he had made a decision.
Bullpen Depth and Confidence
The Dodgers’ bullpen has been a pivotal factor in their playoff run, and Roberts spoke highly of the group’s depth compared to past postseasons. “I think it’s better in the sense of the depth,” Roberts explained, adding, “There’s not a guy I don’t trust in big spots.”
The depth of the bullpen allows Roberts to avoid overusing specific relievers in high-leverage situations, a luxury that wasn’t always available in previous postseason runs. “When you have to go to the same well for every big hot spot, it has a tendency to catch up to you,” Roberts said. “This year, I feel that we have a lot of different guys we can deploy in certain lanes.”
While Roberts has yet to decide whether to go with a bullpen game or start Yamamoto outright, the success of the bullpen in Game 4 has bolstered his confidence in the relievers. “Coming off what they did last night makes everyone feel pretty confident going into Game 5.”
Navigating Postseason Pressure
Roberts also reflected on the pressure of managing a team with high expectations as the top seed. When asked about how this impacts the team’s mindset, Roberts acknowledged the challenges that come with a layoff between series and the weight of expectations. “When you’re the higher seed, there’s certain expectations that come with that,” he said. Roberts hinted that teams coming out of the Wild Card round often have an advantage because they carry momentum into the next series.
However, Roberts is focused solely on tomorrow’s game and preparing his players to execute. “Our only focus is tomorrow and finding the best pitchers to prevent runs tomorrow, and putting together a lineup that’s going to give us the best chance to win.”
We’ll find out soon enough. The winner-take-all Game 5 begins at just after 5:00 pm on Friday night. So the smart money is skipping out of work at lunchtime. See you at the Stadium!
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