NL DIVISION SERIES: DODGERS VS PHILLIES

October 8, 2025

Dave Roberts

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Whether it was Max or Kiké, kind of this conversation of momentum and looking to keep things going, as you head into this one with wanting to close this out, what is just the feeling amongst the group as you are continuing to build on such good baseball that you're playing at the moment?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think it's just kind of staying in this mental state. I think we're in a good spot. Guys aren't too high. Guys aren't too lax. Just focused on kind of as they said keep the momentum and just play good baseball. Yeah, I feel good where we're at, the focus.

Q. Regarding the wheel play in the ninth, Mookie mentioned that it was a conversation him and Miggy had after a game against the Angels, and Miggy said you use that play when it's do-or-die situations. I guess, how often do you get those kind of nuggets from Miguel as a leader in the clubhouse and the value he brings to this team?

DAVE ROBERTS: All the time. He kind of asks me the right questions, and he wants to manage at some point. So he's always trying to learn.

He's really helped Mookie's growth, really sped up the process because of the nuances of the position and thinking about things that might or might not happen and getting ahead of it.

So it's good to see -- Mookie thinks as a shortstop and Miggy is a big reason why.

Q. Do you think Sheehan and Roki will be back on line for you tonight?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, they should be out there playing catch right now. Once they do that, then I'll converse with Bardo and Mark and see where they're at.

Q. I know we've asked you the potential of using starters out of the pen. When you look at these two games specifically, especially how the schedule's lined up for Snell and Shohei, is that something you have in your mind as a possibility coming into these -- tonight and potentially tomorrow, or do you try to stay away from that?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think as far as those two guys, I'm staying away from that. They're not a part of any kind of equation or math that I'm thinking through.

But it is a game that we're going to do everything we can to win within reason, obviously. But I feel good with obviously Yamamoto. I feel good with the guys that in a leverage game that I'm going to go to.

Q. You sort of kept Teo third and Freddie fourth. Is that anticipating that Suarez will get into this game later on?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, I don't mind Teo -- I actually like Teo versus Nola; it's more curveball versus slider. Also, obviously the thought of Ranger potentially coming into the game, taking a chunk of the game, I feel that spacing some of those guys out kind of combats that, puts us in a good position to kind of go at whether they deploy certain guys in the pen or go with Ranger. I feel kind of doing that puts us in a good spot.

Q. Is Will going to have any sort of limitation? What have you thought about the at-bats he's had, especially considering the lay-off you between facing sort of live pitchers?

DAVE ROBERTS: The at-bats have been fantastic especially considering the arms that he's had to face coming into both those games and the lay-off.

If I didn't feel he could finish a game I wouldn't have started him. I feel good. He's in a good spot. I think the at-bat quality has been great.

Q. Could you see Will being in the starting lineup kind of going forward? Or do you need to see how he comes out of a full nine innings first?

DAVE ROBERTS: That's the plan. But, yeah, we've got to see how it looks afterward. But that's the hope. That's why we sort of slow-played it a little bit so we don't regress with his health. That's the thought. But we'll know more after tonight.

Q. Are you surprised at all that a little more than a month after fracturing part of his hand, he's here and able to do this for you guys?

DAVE ROBERTS: I'm not surprised given who he is. And the fracture, typically it's four or five weeks to kind of heal it. So it's healed. Still some residual uncomfort. But him, he wants to be out there. So I'm not surprised as far as the person.

Q. What makes Yoshinobu the right guy for this moment?

DAVE ROBERTS: He's very confident. I think he has a pitch mix that can kind of manage lefties and righties, enough velocity to handle this team. He does a great job of managing his emotions, as good as anyone I've been around.

And so being able to, the opportunity to close it out, he's the right guy tonight.

Q. To follow up what was asked about the starters, if you're in a position which it could make sense could you see Tyler Glasnow coming out of the bullpen in a game like tonight? Or would you just stay away from him in general?

DAVE ROBERTS: We would stay away from him. We'll stay away from Tyler. Tyler won't be an option tonight.

Q. How is Miguel Rojas' hamstring? Is he limited at all?

DAVE ROBERTS: I was out there with him taking grounders, watched him take grounders, and he looked really good. I don't think there's any limitations with the hamstring. I think he'll be ready when called upon. No limitations.

Q. Muncy is back in the lineup. I know he had the oblique and the leg thing after the hit-by-pitch. How has he looked to you at the plate the last few weeks, since he's been back?

DAVE ROBERTS: He looks okay. I think that the line double the other night is a confidence builder. I thought the at-bat prior, taking the walk was good. Max at times gets a little too quick.

This will be a good test for him. Aaron will throw a bunch of curveballs his way. To be able to stay back not get too far out front will be a good test for him tonight.

Q. How important is it to win tonight and not give them hope?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's important. You have these guys on their heels, and you're at home. We expect a great, boisterous crowd. We have one of our aces on the mound. So the way we're playing, we want to put these guys away and don't let them up for air.