NL DIVISION SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 3, 2026

Dave Roberts

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 1 Press Conference

Q. Yesterday when you talked about the roster, you had alluded going with 14 position players, 12 pitchers. What did you guys ultimately decide on just when you look at this group in preparing with the NLDS?

DAVE ROBERTS: We ended up landing on 14 and 12. Josue De Paula is going to be on, bat off the bench. Hyeseong Kim is going to be on, have his legs available, the glove available.

I think the things of note, Jack Dreyer won't be on and Justin Wrobleski won't be on. I think those are really tough decisions, but looking at the Braves' potential position player group, that's what we felt best, but those are tough ones.

Q. When you are looking at what Josue did in the 11-game sample size, what did you see and what did he prove to you guys that made him the coveted left-handed bench?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think what we saw is a really good idea of the strike zone, quality of contact. I think that he's really unflappable, good heartbeat. I think that translates into the postseason.

Dalton Rushing was the other consideration, but having eight at-bats in two months just put him behind the eight ball. The ability not to catch was something that also kind of worked against him. Great conversation with Dalton, great teammate, but I think those are the reasons for De Paula.

Q. When you think about the Braves and how they match up against left-handed pitchers, what in your lefty relievers -- Scott, Vesia, Kris Bubic -- did you like about the matchups?

DAVE ROBERTS: Just how Scott's been great all year, Alex has been great all year, been really good versus left. Bubic, haven't seen a whole bunch of him, but has playoff experience. It's just a different look that I think that we talked about just matches up versus left versus right against some of their guys.

Q. With Dreyer and Wrobleski, does that mean you have five righties and three lefties in the pen?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think so, yeah. Yeah, because Roki is -- yep, that's right.

Q. With the right-handers, the Braves have worse numbers against lefties, but do you feel like you have enough neutrality from the right-handed side in the pen?

DAVE ROBERTS: We do, because I think if you're talking about our first two starters are going to be left-handed, so you're talking about a lot of innings being covered by left-handed pitching in the series.

Q. Did Edgardo Henriquez bounce back? Is he on the roster?

DAVE ROBERTS: Edgardo is on the roster, yes.

Q. When you made the decision to line up with Snell tomorrow, Yamamoto, I would assume, Game 3?

DAVE ROBERTS: Correct.

Q. Is it more about the way Yamamoto pitched on the road and the shadows benefitting Snell tomorrow?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's more about just knowing that they're all going to pitch this series. You can put those three or four guys in a hat and kind of make a decision, but I think that with that, I think just kind of looking out potentially, that just sets up the rotation and Yamamoto better looking forward.

But not discounting this series, because you've got to win this series first, but again, you start from the fact that they're all going to pitch -- the three are going to pitch for sure, guaranteed to pitch, and then what sets them up going forward as well.

Q. You know the lineup pretty well over the years and not a lot of turnover with them, but where have you seen the impact that Walt Weiss has had in his first year as a manager with this team?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think that with Walt the players like him, they respect him. Extension of Snit, been a Brave, understands the culture. He's very relatable. I think that the Latin players respect him, like him. I think the pitchers, same, and certainly the position player group of other guys.

That's something that's special with Walt. He's just a really good connector, and at the end of the day, he lets his players play.

Q. Today is going to be your hottest postseason game since 2017 World Series. What do you remember about the heat that day, and how do you sort of combat this today?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, it was hot. It was hot. I think for us it's obviously do as much as we can to stay hydrated. I think honestly just not let it get to us and be more mindful of the pitcher. Outside of that, it's the same conditions for both teams, and you've got to just stay hydrated and manage it.

I'll keep an eye on Will, but he'll be fine. Just more so probably the starting pitcher.

Q. Just for clarity on the roster since we haven't actually seen it typed out, no Alex Call and Brock Stewart with the righties?

DAVE ROBERTS: Correct.

Q. Who do you have leading off today?

DAVE ROBERTS: Mookie is going to lead off. It will be Mookie then Shohei then Will then Freddie.