MLB WORLD SERIES: DODGERS VS BLUE JAYS

October 26, 2025

Dave Roberts

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Once again, in this stage. Once again, the World Series. What does the Dodgers need to do in specific, sir, to avoid having this series to go back to Canada, to finish it up right here, obviously winning.

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, outside of winning three games? You know, first off, we're trying to win tomorrow. That's the first thing. We have to have Tyler come out and pitch well. We know Scherzer from years past, and we have to know that he's going to come in and compete and make pitches, and we've got to have a good game plan and execute and play sound baseball, and then everything will take care of itself.

Q. We've asked a lot about the offense the last couple games. Are you surprised there hasn't been more slug in general?

DAVE ROBERTS: We hit two homers yesterday. But I think in general, the two guys -- the two starters in particular that would we faced have made really good pitches. I think they have had really good command. But, yeah, we've missed some pitches as well. But, yeah, I guess they have made good pitches, but we have missed pitches as well, so I do think that coming home, I feel that we're back into a little bit of a rhythm offensively that it should show itself here these next three games.

Q. You talked yesterday about kind of considering making a change with Andy in center field and picked up a hit yesterday. Is that something you think he can build on or is it still on the table, you shaking things up with him?

DAVE ROBERTS: Still on the table. It's front of mind, just trying to figure out where he's at mentally, physically. Certainly the performance hasn't been there. Thinking of other options. So, yeah, it's certainly on the table.

Q. These will be Clayton's final home games. You've talked about you're first and foremost trying to win these games here, but would you like to get him into one of these games if the situation is right?

DAVE ROBERTS: I would love to get him into one of these games if the situation is right. But first and foremost, I'm going to make decisions that I feel are best for helping the team win that particular game. If he's a part of it, fantastic.

Q. My connecting flight was delayed. Do you have a travel story for us as well?

DAVE ROBERTS: You know, I don't want to get too far into it. I just arrived about 30 minutes ago. So there was some delays. I don't know if there was intent or not. But, man, the international stuff was a bear. But we made it. We made it.

Q. With Scherzer, you've faced him over the years. I'm thinking in terms of in particular the 2019 playoffs. How different is he as a pitcher now?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, the stuff was down, but that last outing in Seattle, it was up back up. But obviously, with age, you don't have the same stuff. I know they don't have the same leash on him as he used to have. But, man, he's still a great competitor. He still studies hitters, makes pitches, and -- yeah, he's not going to give in. It's still going to be a tough test for us regardless because he wants to beat us really bad, I'm sure.

Q. I know you said that you were just playing the card you were dealt having these starters go long into these games, but is there some part of you that loves seeing the old school baseball that you grew up with, guys going eight, nine innings, complete games?

DAVE ROBERTS: Absolutely. I love it. I think that that's the game that I grew up on, I think that's the game that fans love, but I do think that there's a point in the last, you know, call it 15 years that starters just aren't conditioned to go deeper. So right or wrong, that's what I came into.

So then you look at the roster and what best way to win one particular game, and then a manager, myself, has to make decisions. But, yeah, in a vacuum, I love it this way, yeah.

Q. With three games in three days, how critical is it for the starters to go deep and not tax the bullpen knowing that you're just going to have to keep coming back night after night here?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's critical. I think that, unfortunately, we are comprised of a rotation that can log innings. Yeah, but three in a row is very important to not kind of -- to vary reliever looks and kind of get the optimum matchups that you can. But, yeah, it starts with the starters going deeper, absolutely.

Q. One more on the bullpen. Do you go into three days in a row knowing who is capable of bouncing back to pitch every day and who is not, or is it next morning more seeing how they feel? And also, since they're all going say they're available, how do you make the determination whether they're really capable?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, you don't always trust the player, but in this particular situation, I think I've got a good feel for our guys. You do go into a three game series of knowing what their potential limitations are. Availability, efficacy is important, obviously. So, yeah, just conversations. But in total, whatever it takes to win that game and you pick up the pieces after.

Q. In evaluating it, is there a metric or is it more look in their eye and trying to evaluate if they're --

DAVE ROBERTS: It's their catch play, it's me talking to the coaches, most important, and at the end of the day, I've got to make a bet on if the player, the coach, everything the information, if it makes sense to run 'em out there.

Q. With Clayton specifically, like, how have you seen him sort of navigate this last month obviously in a role that he's not accustomed to at all? And is there any way in which you felt like his presence has had an impact on any individual guys and helped in these playoffs?

DAVE ROBERTS: He's handled this last month with class, professionalism. All the while, he's always said that he wants to do anything he can to help the team. He's followed through on that. All the stuff, finishing out the season and how everything kind of played out, was a lot on his plate. He handled it with grace. And then the kind of uncertainty of role going to the pen, he's just fallen in line. So he's adjusted his kind of workout regimen, throwing program, to be ready when called upon, like everyone else is. I think he's been a big asset for the guys in the pen. Talking to Josh Bard about Clayton interactions and conversations, he's been very additive. So, yeah, to your earlier question, I would love to get him in there if it makes sense.

Q. Back to the game 2, we saw that Roki was warming up in the 9th inning and Yoshi's pitch count already was over a hundred pitches. So in what situation were you planning to use him, use Roki?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think for me, I was watching the throws, making sure that Yoshi's delivery was still sound and consistent, which it was, so that's one part of it, and the quality of pitches. And then kind of then seeing how the inning developed. So it was sort of a hitter-by-hitter situation, but I wanted him to finish that game.

Q. With Roki, you've mostly used him at the end of games. Just given where the rest of the pen is at right now, like, could you see maybe being a little more aggressive using him earlier if there's a situation that arises or do you want to try to keep him preferably in, like, a 9th inning role?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, I would say probably using him more towards the back. I'm not going to say I'm going to be beholden to that throughout the whole series, but I think kind of the way I look at it now more towards its back end.

Q. With the lineup, when you talk about missing pitches that you guys could do damage on, is that partially part of the byproduct of not having faced live pitching for a week and just taking a couple games for guys to get back in their swings a little bit, or is more of that just not executing with some of the stuff they were throwing at you?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think it was more -- honestly, I think we were a little bit in between. We faced two guys with plus secondary pitches and splits, and I think that having that kind of in the back of your mind gets you off the fastball just a little bit. So I think that's kind of what the reason was behind it.

Q. On a more fun note, there's a guy on this team who reminds a lot of people of yourself in Justin Dean, in terms of when he, you know, what he does and his defensive skills. You put him in twice, he made a great catch and he's stolen a base. Just tell me something about him and what it's like to look at a guy who, frankly, reminds me of the game that a lot of people know you had.

DAVE ROBERTS: Great teammate. Really good self evaluator. Obviously wants to be a guy, wants to be in there, but you understand your role on the team, and you try to make the most of it when your number's called. So he's a plus, plus defender out in center field, he can steal a base, and he's good on the team. And so those guys, in the postseason, you need kind of have your horses, but you also have to have the guys on periphery that are good teammates and kind of keep that mojo going and Justin does just that.

Q. One situation that was I was curious about. Have you ever had it where Shohei or Yamamoto or Snell, you're coming out and you feel that it's done, it's over for them, but they tell you, Hell no, I'm going to stay here. I want to finish the game. Is there a situation that you will listen to your pitcher, or you tell them, Sorry, buddy, I'm the manager, you're out.

DAVE ROBERTS: It's kind of case by case. There's certain times where pitchers want to stay in there and I trust 'em and I believe 'em, and I'll go with it. Other times I know what I know and it doesn't matter what they tell me. So, for the most part, 90 percent of the time, 95 percent of the time I've already made my decision. 99 percent of the time. But sometimes I'll, sometimes I'll relent, yeah.