Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — In a game Dave Roberts flat-out called “the worst we’ve played,” the Dodgers still walked off with a win. If that doesn’t scream 2025 Dodgers Energy, I don’t know what does.
Max Muncy’s Turning Point: Change the Bat, Change the Game
Let’s start with Max Muncy. Up until his final at-bat, it had been a rough night—defensive struggles, 0-for-3 at the plate, and seemingly out of sync. But then? He changed bats. Literally. Swapped out the “torpedo bat,” and stepped in with something new. And just like that, he cracked a game-tying two-run double. It wasn’t just the hit—it was the timing, the moment, the way it swung momentum squarely back to the Dodgers’ side.
“Just the way the game started for him… and then to continue to fight and not quit was huge,” Roberts said postgame. It’s a microcosm of the Dodgers’ night: frustrating early, magical late.
Rookie Relievers Come Up Big
Another highlight? The bullpen. With Blake Snell struggling (4 IP, 5 H, 4 BB), Roberts turned to the youth. Jack Dreyer and Ben Casparius gave the team two critical innings, and both held the line against a dangerous offense. In Dave’s words: “Two young rookie pitchers coming up against a good ball club… to chew up two innings a piece, shorten the game, give us a chance—that was huge.”
Also worth a nod: Kirby Yates pitched a clean seventh after a few days off, keeping the game tight and himself sharp.
Shohei Ohtani, Bobblehead Night Legend
And then there’s Shohei.
It was his bobblehead night—and if you’ve been paying attention, those are apparently his thing. “Last year his first bobblehead night he walked it off with a grand slam,” Roberts reminded reporters. “You just feel that he’s going to do something special.”
Ohtani delivered. Not only did he cap off the comeback with a walk-off home run, but he did it with poise and control—no chasing, no panic. “He’s not pressing… when he’s in the strike zone, there’s just no one better.”
This Team Wears You Down
When asked about the Dodgers’ relentless ability to come from behind, Roberts pointed to the quality of at-bats. Walks, working counts, and keeping pressure on pitchers: it’s not flashy, but it’s effective.
Michael Conforto drawing a tough walk early in an inning set up a game-changing homer by Tommy Edman. “We can get back into games without always getting hits,” Roberts noted. “And then we wait for that big hit—which we’ve gotten a few times already.”
“We Had No Business Winning That Game”
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Dodgers were sloppy early. Roberts admitted he was “dumbfounded” by the defense and overall sloppiness. But he was equally stunned by the way they found a path back. “We had no business winning that game,” he said, shaking his head. “But to our guys’ credit, we just kept fighting.”
That’s the heart of this team so far. Eight games in, and the Dodgers have already notched six comeback wins. That’s not luck—it’s character. It’s belief. It’s preparation and poise and patience.
Unbeatable?
When asked once again—tongue firmly in cheek—if this team is unbeatable, Roberts didn’t blink.
“I feel like we’re going to win every night… it looked bleak early, but our guys persevered.”
It’s early, sure. But when a team can play its worst game of the season and still walk off with a win? That says something. The Dodgers aren’t perfect. But they’re deep, focused, and resilient. And with players like Muncy unlocking new life mid-game, and Ohtani rising to every moment? Yeah, unbeatable might not be that far off.
Next Up: A well-earned off day. Then it’s back to business—and if the vibes from this one carry forward, the rest of the league should be on notice.
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