Steve Webb
NEW YORK, NY — Before Wednesday’s Game 3 of the NLCS against the Mets, Dave Roberts shared his thoughts on various strategic aspects and player conditions in a pregame interview. He covered topics ranging from Walker Buehler‘s upcoming start, the lineup changes, bullpen management, and Freddie Freeman‘s health.
Walker Buehler’s Start
When asked about what he expects from Walker Buehler in Game 3, Roberts emphasized the importance of command and reading the opposing hitters. “I thought he threw the baseball fine his last time out. We just didn’t play good defense behind him,” Roberts explained. He outlined that the key will be how Buehler commands his fastball and secondary pitches, and also paying attention to “the quality of contact, the swings that they’re taking against Walker.” For Roberts, the way the hitters react to Buehler’s pitches will indicate the potential success for the outing.
Lineup Changes
Roberts was asked about the decision to flip Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez in the lineup while moving Will Smith down to seventh. “With Will, I just think that just give him a different look. I don’t think he’s swinging the bat great,” Roberts stated. “Severino’s typically been much better versus righties, and so just to give some lefties more cracks at him.” He added that he feels confident in Muncy’s recent at-bats, which justified bumping him up in the lineup.
Comparing to Last Week’s Game 3
When questioned about approaching this Game 3 differently than last week’s in San Diego, Roberts highlighted the state of the bullpen. “Certain guys in our pen have had considerable time off; they’re rested,” he pointed out. “It’s an important game. So, if you’re looking at it as a five-game series, that’s kind of how I’m looking at it. To win this first game is really important.” He signaled that managing the game with urgency, especially in the first few innings, would be crucial depending on how Buehler performs.
Freddie Freeman’s Status
Roberts provided an update on Freddie Freeman, who has been dealing with an ankle issue. “I think he’s doing a great job mentally trying to stay positive, although it’s pretty frustrating at times that he can’t get out of the woods as far as kind of getting over the hump,” Roberts explained. He noted that the swelling has decreased significantly over the last few days. “He’s doing a good job of still taking good at-bats and making the plays defensively that he needs to,” Roberts said, adding that if the Dodgers could establish a lead, it might allow them to rest Freeman. However, Roberts made it clear, “Regardless, he’s going to be in there.”
Bullpen Strategy for the Series
Discussing the unique challenges of the 2024 season, Roberts acknowledged the absence of Alex Vesia for this series as a setback. “The bullpen is very neutral (compared to last season). I trust a lot of those guys in the pen,” he stated, emphasizing that he feels comfortable deploying the bullpen in various situations. Roberts noted that the starters have different workloads this year. “With Yoshinobu, his history recently hasn’t pitched a whole lot. With Flaherty, I feel like we can kind of extend him a little bit more, and with Walker… kind of reading and reacting” he said, implying that the rotation may require some in-game flexibility. “I still believer that in totality, getting 27 outs, we’re still very well equipped to do that.”
The Mets’ Transformation
Reflecting on the Mets’ turnaround since the teams last faced each other in May, Roberts said, “They’re a completely different ball club than we saw.” He credited Francisco Lindor‘s return to form and other key changes, including Sean Mannaea’s adjusted arm slot and Mark Vientos’ emergence. “They’ve had a tremendous second half, won a lot of ball games, and you can see they’re playing with a lot of confidence,” he remarked.
Yamamoto’s Performance
Roberts shared his evaluation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s rookie season. “When he signed and joined that rotation, there were many established big league starters…and now he’s one of the few sort of still left standing,” Roberts observed. He praised the team for maintaining Yamamoto’s routine and schedule, adding, “It’s been a very good learning year for Yoshinobu.” Despite dealing with injuries, Roberts said, “To come back with such great intent, urgency, has been great to see.”
Hudson’s Availability and Rotation Plans
Addressing Daniel Hudson’s availability, Roberts confirmed, “Huddy’s available, yeah. He feels good.” In addition, Roberts said that it was “likely” that Jack Flaherty starts Game 5 after Yoshi in Game 4. When pressed on his pitching plans should the series have to return to LA for further games, Roberts was unwilling to commit to any further plans, or at least none that he cared to share with the media. I feel really good with our starters going through three, four, and five and where the pen’s at. And, you know, when and if that time comes, we’ll figure out a plan.”
The Significance of Playing in New York
Roberts expressed excitement about being in New York for October baseball. “You live to play in October baseball, and certainly this market is always fun,” he said. Reflecting on past experiences, he added, “I love beating that team across town. I think everyone on this side of town does too.”
With the stakes high in this pivotal Game 3, Roberts conveyed confidence in the team’s readiness and strategic adjustments. His responses reflected a balance of optimism and caution as the Dodgers look to take control of the series.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
