Dodgers Interview: Roberts loves where Yoshi’s season is trending

LOS ANGELES — After another commanding performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto and a characteristically explosive swing from Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t need to be convinced that things are finally clicking.

Asked whether Yamamoto has looked more like the pitcher who dominated at the start of the year, Roberts didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I think so,” he said. “I think he just kind of, you know, recalibrated the strike throwing. The split was really good today. The fastball — obviously the command was really good. Got some early outs, a lot of strikeouts. He was really good tonight.”

Yamamoto went seven strong innings on Tuesday night, striking out eight and allowing just one run in the Dodgers’ 6–1 win over the White Sox. For a pitcher who’s had more than his share of tough-luck losses, the run support was a welcome change — and Roberts credited the offense for setting the tone early.

“I think it started with the Will [Smith] at-bat,” he said. “The first inning, [Sox starter Shane Smith] gets two outs on two pitches, and then Will earns a walk, Muncy gets a walk, and then we get a couple hits right there. That got the pitch count up, which was huge to set the tone for the game and to get [Smith] out after five innings.”

Roberts noted that White Sox starter Shane Smith had “good stuff,” so the Dodgers’ ability to work deep counts and string together quality at-bats was particularly important.

“It was good that, coming off an off day, we fed off the momentum from Yoshinobu and got hits when we needed to,” Roberts said. “Tommy [Edman] had a big hit right there in that first inning, and obviously Shohei did what Shohei does.”

Ohtani, as he often does, delivered the moment that brought Dodger Stadium to its feet — a two-out solo homer in the fourth inning, his 30th of the year.

Asked if seeing Ohtani reach that milestone while still preparing to pitch put things into perspective, Roberts shook his head.

“I don’t know if perspective even really lands with Shohei,” he said. “Seeing it day to day, all that it entails — him getting ready to play a game, the expectations he has on himself, still pitching and staying healthy — that’s hard to wrap my head around, to be quite honest.”

Roberts said he’s in awe of Ohtani’s ability to perform at such a high level while juggling so many responsibilities.

“He’s as good as anyone I’ve ever seen at compartmentalizing expectations, the noise, different facets of the game — all while performing,” he said. “I just kind of stand back in amazement.”

Yamamoto, too, seems to be hitting his stride again after a few starts where his command wavered and he appeared to be trying too hard to be perfect. Roberts admitted there may be something to the idea that facing struggling teams like the Rockies and White Sox helped the right-hander regain his rhythm.

“Yeah, there might be something to it, certainly,” he said. “But I still believe that regardless of the opponent, if he’s doing what he’s doing, he’s going to be effective. Any given night, any big-league team can get you. I was just happy that he was aggressive, using his split, putting hitters away. He’s doing what he needs to do.”

With Tuesday’s win, the Dodgers improved to 54–32 and now hold an eight-game lead in the NL West — a remarkable shift from just two weeks ago when they were tied for first.

Roberts smiled when asked if this stretch is playing out the way he envisioned.

“Yeah, I think so,” he said. “We’re still not playing our best baseball, in totality. But on the pitching side, we’re really pitching well. The bullpen’s been great, kind of stabilized. We’re getting a lot of contributions from guys in the middle to the bottom of the order, which is huge. We’re getting timely hits.”

Roberts was especially pleased with how his team handled a difficult stretch of 26 games against opponents with winning records.

“Going through that gauntlet and not letting down, just staying on the gas — that’s been good,” he said. “Now we want to finish strong heading into the break.”

The Dodgers haven’t been at full strength much this season — a fact that makes their eight-game lead all the more impressive.

“We haven’t been at full strength all year, and a lot of teams can say the same thing,” Roberts said. “But to our credit, no one’s made any excuses. Guys have taken advantage of opportunities, and I still believe our best baseball is ahead of us.”

The team might not be the dominant force some expected to steamroll the league, but Roberts remains optimistic that their best version is yet to come — and that they’re finding their rhythm at the perfect time.

“I expected us to go through that gauntlet and get on a heater,” he said. “And that’s kind of what’s happening — all the while not really playing our best baseball, in my opinion.”

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