NL DIVISION SERIES: DODGERS VS PHILLIES

October 9, 2025

Dave Roberts

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Dodgers - 2, Phillies - 1 (11)

DAVE ROBERTS: First off, I'll start. I want to congratulate the Phillies on a tremendous season. First-class organization. Dombo, Rob, their organization, their players, how they put together things. It was a war. It was a battle.

And classic, instant classic game. And I just want to just congratulate those guys on a great year.

Q. Could you just talk about Roki's growth this season and what he's meant to you guys now and his role as a closer?

DAVE ROBERTS: Oh, my gosh. You're talking about one of the great all-time appearances out of the pen that I can remember. Certainly given where he started this year, what he is as a starting pitcher, to go out there and not only go one inning, two innings and then three innings, and to do what he did gave us a huge boost.

I can't speak enough to his growth and his contribution to this club. We're starting to see something really special in him, and that's why he was courted so hard in the offseason.

But what he's done now on the biggest of stages, he's just scratching the surface. But couldn't be more proud of him.

Q. Can you talk about Glasnow as far as last year not being in the playoffs and now having this opportunity, as you say, the big stage for Tyler?

DAVE ROBERTS: I couldn't be more excited for Tyler. A little bit looking on the outside looking in last year, and wanting to be a part of things. And all offseason, this season, he couldn't wait for this moment, for the postseason, and to contribute.

And so he's prepared physically, mentally. And what he did, it was his time today. Today was his moment. And I was just very happy to see that he rose to that occasion and gave us a huge boost.

This is something that I know is going to propel him going forward.

Q. With Sasaki, were you thinking multiple innings from the start?

DAVE ROBERTS: I was thinking -- at that point in time when we went to him, I was thinking two. And then I just felt that the stuff, where the game was at, I felt he could handle us pushing him. And he didn't bat an eye. He was ready, and he didn't run from it.

It's part of the Japanese culture, the toughness. He's been a star his entire life. And I just felt that in that moment, in the ninth inning, he was the best option right there to keep this game going.

Q. I don't think I've ever seen you come out of a dugout to greet a pitcher coming off. What were you thinking at that time?

DAVE ROBERTS: Pure elation. I think a lot of times for me as a coach, I pull for the players, and just seeing, in April and May, when Roki was sitting at the end of the dugout watching his team play, being injured, not performing well, and sticking with them, building a relationship with him.

And to now see him go not only one inning but two innings and be our closer and go three innings, I just felt so happy for him. That's kind of where that came from.

Q. You mentioned those early months. I would even go back to that introductory press conference. I didn't sense a ton of confidence from him almost, body-language wise. The confidence he's shown since he's come back, were you surprised at all that that was in there?

DAVE ROBERTS: I was. Roki's a young player, and I think that he's very shy, reserved, but I do think that him coming back, he's opened up a lot more. I think he's showing more who he really is and showing some emotion.

The toughness is certainly there. And he's embracing it. And I think that his teammates couldn't be more excited for him. And that's growth and maturity.

Q. Obviously you take the win, but what are your feelings when it comes to Orion Kerkering, seeing that happen on the other side?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's brutal. Obviously they played great defense tonight. It's one of those things that it's a PFP, a pitcher's fielding practice. He's done it a thousand times.

And right there he was so focused, I'm sure, on just getting the hitter and just sort of forgot the outs and the situation.

Kerkering is a stud. And you definitely feel for a player. I'm obviously happy that we won. But, yeah, he's had a heck of a year and he's a heck of a pitcher.

Q. Do you think your players share in that sympathy?

DAVE ROBERTS: I don't know. No one wants anyone to kind of bear that. But he's a heck of a pitcher. For us, obviously, as Dodgers, we're happy with the result.

Q. Glasnow had 83 pitches through six. Any thoughts to keeping him in there? What went into that decision?

DAVE ROBERTS: He had cramps. He had cramps in the fifth and sixth. He hasn't thrown that many pitches in a month. I felt that with the cramps -- and we pushed him as far as I wanted to push him right there.

Q. What about Vesia's inning in the 11th, what did you think there? Kind of a high wire there. What were you thinking of that time?

DAVE ROBERTS: I thought Alex made pitches when he needed to, and Bader put forth a great at-bat. The walk to Harper. The passed ball obviously created some stress. And Bader put forth an eight- nine-pitch at-bat. And Alex made a great pitch to punch him right there. Great competition.

Q. You mentioned this one was a battle all the way through the end. What did you see of the at-bats collectively there in the 11th inning?

DAVE ROBERTS: I thought Kiké took probably one of his best at-bats of the year. You get a guy that's very tough on right-handed hitters, to go down in the count and to earn a walk was huge.

And with Andy, obviously Andy has been scuffling. But to keep fighting and to put the ball in play to create something, I give him a lot of credit. But Tommy Edman, he does a great job of getting on base.

It was just a great inning. Again, we just kept fighting. And those guys gave us everything they had.

Q. What can you say about Alex Call staying ready and quietly getting you guys going on the bases?

DAVE ROBERTS: Alex, he's a winner. He's sort of on the periphery, but the guys love him. He's a baseball player. He's prepared. Whatever situation I ask of him he's ready.

So just learning him at the deadline, he's a great teammate and very prepared. And him getting hit-by-pitch, the hit, he's always doing something to help you win baseball games.

Q. We still don't know who you're going to face next, but is Shohei the Game 1 starter for you?

DAVE ROBERTS: We're going to talk about that. But that's probably the case. But with the off day after Game 2, we don't know yet.