Steve Webb
BRONX, NY — As the Dodgers prepare to close out the World Series in Game 5, outfielder Teoscar Hernandez discussed his and the team’s approach as they face Yankees ace Gerrit Cole once again. Hernandez shared insight on the adjustments the team aims to make after seeing Cole in Game 1, while stressing the importance of sticking to their game plan without letting the magnitude of the moment create unnecessary pressure.
“We know he’s going to make adjustments from last start,” Hernandez said about Cole. “He’s not going to pitch the same… you just have to go there, see how he’s pitching, see how he’s [changing his approach], what pitch he’s going to use the most, and you go from there.”
Having faced Cole numerous times, Hernandez knows the challenges he poses as a top-tier pitcher. “There’s no question about his stuff… He’s smart, he’s not going to give a lot of pitches to hit to anybody,” Hernandez noted. For the Dodgers, he emphasized, it’s all about making in-game adjustments and executing their plan. “You just [try] to make the adjustment during the games and preparation before the game and just go execute it,” he said.
Facing Cole so soon after their first matchup also gives the Dodgers a fresh perspective on his pitching, which Hernandez believes could work in their favor. “When you face a pitcher, and then you face him again… you have an idea how he might approach you,” he explained, adding that the short turnaround means “it’s not going to be [that] big of a difference.”
Personally, Hernandez’s focus tonight is on consistency and getting on base. “I’m not trying to be a hero,” he stated, stressing that his goal is simply to contribute however he can. “I’m just trying to make something happen and just go from there.”
Asked about the safety concerns following Mookie Betts’ incident with a fan in the stands during Game 4, Hernandez was unshaken. “Yankee fans, they’re really passionate… they go hard on players,” he acknowledged, but added, “I’ve played here for six years against the Yankees, and I’ve never seen anything go wrong with the [opposing] team.”
Reflecting on what sets the Dodgers apart, Hernandez highlighted the team’s unity and lack of ego. “We all [prepare] together in this… we’re not thinking about individual stuff,” he emphasized. Instead, each player is focused on the same goal: “We just go there, we get ready, we prepare ourselves to get to the field and just find a way to win that night.”
This camaraderie, Hernandez explained, is largely inspired by the team’s star players: Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani, who lead by example. “When you have three players like that… the way they work, the way they prepare for every game, it’s just amazing because they have no ego,” Hernandez said. “[They’re] just one more player in the clubhouse, and when you see guys like that… you make yourself work a little harder just to be like them.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also plays a significant role in shaping the team’s culture, according to Hernandez. Having played for four teams, Hernandez praised Roberts as “one of the best managers” he’s had, saying, “He gives confidence to the players, he lets you play, he lets you be the player that you always [are], he lets you have fun, and his communication with his team is one of the best.”
As the Dodgers look to finish off the Yankees tonight, Hernandez made it clear they’re keeping things in perspective. “I don’t think there’s any urgency… we just have to play our game and obviously stop them [from gaining] momentum,” he explained. The Dodgers’ strategy, he continued, is to “score runs early… and keep scoring so we can keep playing the way we’re playing and just [try] to win at the end.”
When asked about his success against the Yankees throughout his career, Hernandez downplayed any special strategy, saying it’s simply a matter of focus. “I might get more focused, might get more aggressive in terms of getting a good pitch and putting a good at-bat together… just trying to help my team win and beat the team that we face that day.”
As the Dodgers enter tonight’s game with a 3-1 series lead, Hernandez’s steady approach and respect for both his teammates and manager paint a picture of a team primed for success. “We’re ready,” he concluded, confident but not complacent. With a focus on unity, execution, and avoiding unnecessary pressure, Hernandez and the Dodgers look to end their season with a championship.
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