LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers couldn’t capitalize on several late-game opportunities Saturday night, falling 6–4 to the Astros at Dodger Stadium and dropping their second straight in the series. While Shohei Ohtani delivered another strong two-inning start on the mound, a rough third inning by Justin Wrobleski and a key baserunning mistake by Mookie Betts proved too much to overcome. After the game, manager Dave Roberts addressed the loss with a mix of frustration and perspective.
Roberts acknowledged the team’s failure to deliver with runners on base, especially in the seventh and eighth innings when the Dodgers had chances to tie or take the lead. “We gave ourselves an opportunity to get back in the game, to win the game,” Roberts said. “We just couldn’t cash in. That’s frustrating.”
Despite the missed opportunities, Roberts praised Ohtani’s continued progress on the mound, calling his two scoreless innings “very impressive.” He noted that Ohtani’s stuff is improving with each outing and that he’s pitching with more control. “The command, the feel for making pitches—it’s all progressing. He’s learning to pitch with more control rather than just trying to throw as hard as he can.” Roberts was especially pleased with Ohtani’s efficiency, which included a double play in the first inning that helped him get through two clean frames on just 31 pitches.
When asked if there was consideration of sending Ohtani back out for a third inning, Roberts said the team never wavered from the plan. “Coming into today, we talked about two innings, and I think it’s important that once we communicate something, we stick to it. We’re not in a place where we can just let him go.”
Looking ahead, Roberts said that building Ohtani up to five or six innings is feasible. “That’s a natural progression we can get to,” he said, though no timeline has been set.
Wrobleski followed Ohtani and struggled in his first frame, giving up four runs—three earned—in the third inning. Roberts said the left-hander’s command was off early, particularly with his fastball and cutter. “He was yanking fastballs and cutters early,” Roberts explained. “But once Will [Smith] started mixing in the curveball, he slowed them down, found the zone again, and got deeper into the game.” Roberts ultimately pulled Wrobleski in the seventh after a base hit by Isaac Paredes, saying he wanted to give the bullpen the best chance to keep the game close. “Justin did a nice job overall, especially after that first inning,” he added.
One of the most talked-about plays of the night was Betts’ decision to try to stretch a leadoff double into a triple in the seventh inning. He was thrown out at third base, cutting off a potential rally with the heart of the order due up. Roberts said the aggressiveness wasn’t the issue—but the timing was. “You’ve got to use more caution in that situation,” he said. “You’re down a run, the play’s in front of you, and you’ve got the middle of the order coming up. I know Mookie thought he could get there, but staying at second was the better play. I think he’d agree.”
Roberts did note that Betts’ swing has looked better in recent days. “He’s not as in-between,” Roberts said. “He’s getting ready, he’s on time, and the swings are more aggressive. That’s a good sign.”
As for Ohtani at the plate, who mentioned postgame that he’s missing pitches he usually hits, Roberts agreed to a degree. “There have been some balls down in the zone these last couple games that he hasn’t elevated,” he said. “But he’s still taking good at-bats. I’m not concerned.”
When asked whether Ohtani’s increasing pitching workload could be affecting his performance at the plate, Roberts didn’t think so. “It’s a small sample,” he said. “Whether it’s the day he’s pitching or the day after, I think he’s still having quality at-bats.”
Roberts also dismissed the idea that the rhythm of interleague play had any impact on his team. “We’ve done it enough. Guys are conditioned to play the schedule, whether it’s interleague or not. No concern there.”
Finally, Roberts confirmed that Teoscar Hernández came out of the game healthy despite striking out three times.
With the loss, the Dodgers fall to 56–34. They’ll try to avoid the sweep on Sunday and get back in the win column before hitting the road again. “Now we’ve got to circle up, regroup, and salvage the series,” Roberts said.
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