NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: DODGERS VS BREWERS

October 14, 2025

Dave Roberts

American Family Field

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. I know we've seen quite a few lefties recently. How you've set up the lineup, mixing Teoscar, Freddie, things like that, Teoscar is further down in the lineup today. What went into that decision of how you wanted to construct today's lineup going against Peralta?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think just thinking about where they're at as a staff. They're going to need length out of Freddy. And just to feel that having Max in the 5, I think it just makes it a little bit more challenging for him in just understanding that trying to beat the starter. And I felt this lineup construction is the best way to go about it.

Q. How much of a advantage is it to win a Game 1 in which they have to use so much of their high-leverage pitching in the way that game played out?

DAVE ROBERTS: As the game went on -- every win is important, but when you can win a ball game and get looks at their leverage guys, and they've obviously had to expend a lot of energy getting to this point. So when you're looking at four games in five days and still securing a win was huge for us.

Feel good where we're at on the pitching side, and obviously getting a look at a handful of guys yesterday as well.

Q. In your bullpen, Roki's fastball velocity has ticked down a little bit in the postseason. How much of a concern is that? Or is it more the more you pitch him, the more mileage on the arm? Or what do you attribute that to?

DAVE ROBERTS: That's interesting. We've identified that. I don't know the answer. We'll see how today goes. But it's one of those things that we're still in sort of unchartered territory with him. We're still gathering information. And he's doing everything he can to stay ready and be ready and be productive.

But it's something that's certainly on our radar. I don't know if it's -- I don't think it would be fatigue or if it's mechanical, but it may be a combo like most things are.

Q. Would that make Roki unavailable today, potentially?

DAVE ROBERTS: I wouldn't say unavailable, but it is unlikely that we'll use him.

Q. And you've continued to use Treinen in some high-leverage spots, even with the ups and downs of the season. What has led you to kind of keep that faith in him and want to put him in those positions?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think -- I know he's pitched in huge spots for us. I think he does a great job of handling his emotions. And when you're pitching in playoff games, in big spots, it doesn't matter what the season ERA is; it's what you do in a particular moment.

I think for me, I'm willing to bet on certain players in big spots, regardless of other things that might have led up to a particular moment. And Blake's one of those guys.

Q. The crazy double play last night, what do you do with that? Do you just put it away? Do you use it as a teachable moment? Do you discuss it at all?

DAVE ROBERTS: We discussed it a little bit, but honestly we had the play this year. And our coaches talked about it even recently. And so definitely don't put it away. Very unlikely that happens three times in one year to one team, but I would be shocked if, number one, if it happens again and if we make the same mistakes.

I do think that we're very versed in the rules. We really take pride in that. But that was just one of those crazy situations.

But I am grateful of the fact that even after that crazy play, we continued to kind of fight and take good at-bats afterward and didn't let it kind of bring us down for the rest of the game.

Q. The topic of your haunted hotel has come up again. You've stayed there many times over the years, I'm sure. Do you have any paranormal stories for us?

DAVE ROBERTS: I don't. Those stories went away when I was about 10 years old. So no, no, not anymore. I'm okay to go to bed now.

Q. On Yoshinobu, when he makes the adjustments, whether in game, in between starts, what do you see from him that allows him to have more success, especially when you consider his last outing here wasn't one of his stronger ones and how he, I have to imagine, personally looks to get back on track against this team?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah. In-game adjustments, there's some part of it of pitch mix. Whether it's going to the breaking ball more or going to the fastball, whatever pitch it might be, right, to get him back on track. Don't know the answer until we're in it.

I do think that how to start off the right way is get ahead. And that's the thing that when he does get ahead he's good. And when he doesn't, he labors. So, that's kind of the tale for Yoshinobu.

So my expectation is that he's going to get ahead of these guys, and then the split's going to be better than it was his last outing, and it's going to be a good outing.

Q. Did you decide which game Shohei is pitching?

DAVE ROBERTS: Shohei will throw Game 4, and Glas, Game 3.

Q. How did you decide on that, 3 and 4, starting pitching?

DAVE ROBERTS: Shohei has been fine with rest. Potentially lines him up if we need a Game 7 out of the pen.

Game 3, we feel that Tyler is on regular rest, so it kind of lines him up as well. So just kind of all these things just made sense.