MLB WORLD SERIES: DODGERS VS BLUE JAYS

October 24, 2025

Dave Roberts

Rogers Centre

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 1 Press Conference

Q. Yesterday, when -- and honestly, the last few weeks with talking to Blake Snell, he's talked about just how much information he likes to take in before each start. What have you learned from him in his pitching style, the information he likes to take in, as he prepares for his outing that kind of maybe stands out to you about him that maybe you didn't know before managing him?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think I've learned that he does a good job with his homework, he has his own process, very well prepared, but takes in information from Mark and the catchers. But really is very well prepared and he understands how much he needs versus being overloaded.

Q. With all the reasons that your team has for wanting to win another World Series, do you think the Alex Vesia situation is another reason this team is going to play for him right now?

DAVE ROBERTS: You know, it's certainly on our hearts and we miss him, and we'll be thinking about him, and certainly he's a part of this. It's just even more motivation, yes.

Q. During the celebration after winning last year's World Series, you said, Let's get ready to run this thing back. Now this is that opportunity that first day where you're trying to run it back. Describe the pressure you feel right now.

DAVE ROBERTS: None. None whatsoever. I think that right now our only focus is winning tonight. I mean that wholeheartedly. That's the only thing that we care about right now. It's a big game. It's going to be a fun crowd. Our guys are prepared. That's something I said certainly close to a year ago, and we're in a position to do that, but we got to win four games. So right now, let's take care of business, and then we'll see how it all falls out.

Q. Just wanted to clarify, Vesia being off the roster, is he out for the World Series at this point?

DAVE ROBERTS: You know what? I think that's probably the most likely. Unless something unforeseen happens, that's kind of what we're anticipating.

Q. Obviously, the human side of this is kind of bigger than the baseball side, but he's been used in so many big situations for you. How do you kind of replace that with your current bullpen?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, we have a lot of viable options. I don't know what situation will present itself. But I trust all the guys, I really do, and guys are going to have to step up. But Alex is certainly going to be missed.

Q. Did you guys consider putting him on the family medical leave list at all or was it just he wasn't going to be able to come back even if you did do that?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think we exhausted a couple different options, but just considering, obviously, what he's going through, baseball's certainly on the back burner. So I just think that's kind of the right process, I think that we as an organization was probably the best way to handle it. To be quite honest, I don't know a lot of what went into it.

Q. This Blue Jays lineup has the lowest whiff rate in the postseason. Your rotation has the highest. How do you see that dynamic playing out, and does it alter what your pitchers kind of need to do to keep having the success they have had this month?

DAVE ROBERTS: It doesn't alter. They're aggressive early, and then with two strikes, they find a way to put the ball in play. We've got to make quality pitches early in the count. That's kind of what it boils down to.

Q. With going with Will Klein, putting Edgardo Henriquez back on the roster, what have you been seeing from Will -- whether during the stay-hot time in between series, what have you been seeing from him, and then what do you like about Edgardo in this matchup?

DAVE ROBERTS: Well, I like Will because it's a plus fastball, it's a good curveball, good slider, and it's something that these guys haven't seen.

And then Edgardo, it's velocity, it's a slider, it's a sinker. There's a cut fastball in there. So just something to continue to try to keep a couple of those right-hand hitters at bay.

Q. Vlad is such a big presence in that lineup. How much pressure does this put on you guys finding some more success out of your right-handed relievers?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, he's certainly one of the best hitters in the game swinging a hot bat. I think what it comes down to is trying to get those guys out in front of him. If Vlad comes up with guys in scoring position, guys on base, then it certainly makes a job for any pitcher tough. So you just got to really lock in on those first couple guys and try to keep guys off base when he comes up to bat.

Q. As a baseball observer, when did Trey Yesavage first pop up on your radar and how remarkable is it for a guy like that for that few big league starts to be starting Game 1 of a World Series?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, I think it was against the Yankees, just seeing the stuff, the split, kind of learning about it. He's got a good way about him, a confidence. That's the first I heard of him.

Q. No Tanner Scott on the roster. Was that a medical-related decision or performance-related?

DAVE ROBERTS: More medical. More medical. The medical has not allowed for him to have the ramp-up, and as he's thrown a couple bullpens, it just wasn't quite there. So I think that for us the cost of potential injury and betting on the upside of how quick this thing came about, I think ultimately it's just bad timing, unfortunately.