Dodgers Interview: Roberts on Kersh’s quest for 3,000, plans for Sheehan

LOS ANGELES — As the Dodgers prepared for another key matchup with the rival San Francisco Giants on Saturday night, manager Dave Roberts took the podium to offer insight on Clayton Kershaw’s next start, the team’s recent offensive struggles against starting pitching, and the return timeline for reinforcements like Emmet Sheehan and Shohei Ohtani. The press conference also touched on a personal moment for Roberts: his upcoming recognition from the governor of Okinawa.

Kershaw Closing in on 3,000

Clayton Kershaw, who returned from shoulder surgery earlier this month, is on the cusp of another historic milestone: 3,000 career strikeouts. He enters Saturday’s game just 17 shy of that mark.

Roberts acknowledged that the milestone is “top of mind” and appreciated that Freddie Freeman keeps the team lighthearted about it. “Freddie’s kind of being overt about it and not trying to shy away from it,” Roberts said with a smile. “It’s something that should be anticipated.” While Roberts wasn’t exactly sure where Kershaw stands on the all-time list, he emphasized, “We’re going to start to feel that anticipation build, and that’s going to be exciting for everyone.”

Roberts believes that Kershaw will need his slider to be sharp against San Francisco’s right-handed-heavy lineup. “If he can come in on that fastball to both sides of the plate and present that slider as a strike, it should be a good outing for him,” Roberts said. “It’s an aggressive team. There should be a lot of balls in play early.”

Emmet Sheehan Nearing Return

Right-hander Emmet Sheehan, who hasn’t pitched in a major league game since undergoing elbow surgery last year, may be nearing activation. Roberts shared that Sheehan will throw a bullpen session Sunday and, if all goes well, could rejoin the team soon after. “We’ll keep kicking the can until,” Roberts said, pausing, “well, until we can’t.”

Sheehan appears physically stronger than before his surgery, a transformation Roberts attributed to the long rehab process. “He’s much more physical than he was. He’s very physical right now,” Roberts observed. “All the reports from spring training to now have been really positive every time out.”

If Sheehan is activated, Roberts didn’t rule out the possibility of working him into the rotation but suggested a six-man rotation was unlikely. “There’s still room for both,” he said, referring to the possibility of keeping the current starters intact while folding Sheehan into a swingman or piggyback role. As for Sheehan’s next start, Roberts projected a pitch limit of “4 [innings] and 60, 65 pitches.”

Ohtani Continues Pitching Progression

Shohei Ohtani, who is recovering from his own elbow procedure, threw a “touch and feel” bullpen session on Saturday. According to Roberts, it looked more like a normal between-starts session for a healthy starter. While Ohtani’s next session against live hitters hasn’t been scheduled, Roberts said, “He’ll face hitters next week. I just don’t know which day—maybe Wednesday or Thursday.”

Ohtani’s recovery continues to track well, and though he won’t pitch in games this season, his work on the mound during rehab is closely watched as the Dodgers prepare for 2026 with him expected back in a two-way role.

Roberts on Giants’ Mentality, Dodgers’ Offensive Struggles

After Friday’s loss, Roberts was asked if he felt the Giants were treating the series as a measuring stick. “I think so,” he said. “They’ve got some young players, they’re playing good baseball, and they got the best of us last night.”

One of the issues that has plagued the Dodgers of late has been their inability to do damage against opposing starting pitchers, even as they often fare better against bullpens. Roberts didn’t have a clear answer but noted, “We seem to get going in the seventh inning or later against high-level relievers.” He cited a strong performance against Yankees starter Max Fried earlier in the month but acknowledged inconsistency elsewhere. “Whether [starters are] front-line guys or 3s, 4s, and 5s, we just haven’t been able to get to them consistently.”

When asked if this was part of a broader identity issue, Roberts replied, “I think we’re just not in lockstep as a team approach-wise and maybe giving too many at-bats away, which cuts into building on the pitch count.” He added, “At the end of the day, we’ve got to be better at beating the starter.”

Roberts admitted that the offense’s lack of early-inning success has been “a little mind-boggling given the talent we have and the preparation each night.” Still, he expressed confidence that things will balance out.

Roster Updates and Recognition from Okinawa

Roberts also confirmed that right-handed pitcher Jack Little has joined the Dodgers on the taxi squad, though no official roster move had been made as of Saturday afternoon. “There’s a couple decisions we’re toiling with right now,” Roberts said, noting Little would spend a few days around the club to acclimate.

Finally, Roberts addressed the news that he’ll be receiving an honor from the governor of Okinawa prior to Saturday night’s game. “That’s a big award. It’s not just the city of Naha—it’s the country (sic) of Okinawa,” Roberts said proudly. “I think I’m excited. My mom’s really excited about it. I get to meet the governor. Maybe catch the first pitch.”

Roberts was born in Naha, Okinawa, and has long spoken about the pride he feels representing his Japanese and African-American heritage. Being recognized by Okinawa, he said, is “pretty remarkable, given that was my birthplace and I still have family there. It’s a huge honor.”

Final Thoughts

As the Dodgers navigate June with their rotation in flux and offensive identity still forming, Roberts emphasized a tone of cautious optimism. Between the potential return of Sheehan, Ohtani’s progress, and Kershaw’s impending milestone, there are storylines to watch—and reasons to believe the best is yet to come.

Whether that starts tonight with a vintage Kershaw performance or later this month, Roberts knows that the focus is on staying consistent, trusting the process, and letting the team’s talent rise to the occasion.

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