NL DIVISION SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 5, 2026

Dave Roberts

Truist Park

Los Angeles Dodgers

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. You said last night that you could see Edwin closing games going forward. Are you still picturing that as kind of a by committee, or could we get to one closer maybe by the end of this?

DAVE ROBERTS: We could certainly get there. I can't speak to, as far as how tomorrow plays out, but certainly that last outing was as good as we've seen him throw, and it's hard to imagine throwing any better.

I think that we built him up, regained the confidence in him, himself in himself. So, yeah, I think that it's certainly a viable option for tomorrow night. I feel very confident him finishing a game.

Q. He obviously struggled through the year, but with his track record, a guy with that back of the baseball card could have taken that demotion poorly. What has it said about him that instead he's steadily worked his way back into the trust tree?

DAVE ROBERTS: Character. I think that's the main thing that, as you dig on a free agent, you talk to a lot of people and vet a lot of people about the player. And across the board he was a great teammate, high character guy.

And certainly when things aren't going the best and how players respond, is telling. And I think that the way he kind of stayed the course, dealt with the injuries, going to OKC on a longer rehab to kind of work things out, and then to take on whatever role we have for him says a lot about him.

And he's put himself in a position to, yeah, be the closer. And I think in October, I don't pay too much attention to the long sample of a season in a lot of cases because in October things happen quickly, and you've got to be willing to read and react.

Q. You said even before the series began that Freddy was starting to look better to you in the workouts. Do you think that these first two games, it looks like he's found a swing that will work for him in the short term?

DAVE ROBERTS: I do. I do. I think that he's gotten into his legs a lot more. He's moving balls in the hitting zone forward. I think he's as healthy as he's been in quite some time. I think the mechanics are sound.

So, yeah, I felt good about him coming into this series. And even that first game, squared up some balls. Only got one hit. But, yeah, I'm happy to see the results, too.

Q. Do you think that for him he needed to be able to kind of test and trust the knee again after what he was dealing with in September?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think a little bit. I think a lot of it actually is the week off, being able to manage that with the five days off got him back to health to be able to work through some things without trying to have to perform in a game setting was helpful trying to play for the second seed.

So he was in there a lot. Certainly didn't play him a couple times. But I think that the five days was really crucial for him.

Q. You said even before yesterday's game that you felt like Andy might have been pressing a little bit at the plate. Just considering how last October went for him, does that make you more willing to be aggressive when it comes to, I don't know, take him out of the lineup or sort of just being able to use that, go to him and sort of shift things around a little bit?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, this is one of those things that I'm gonna continue to give Andy leash. I believe in him. I feel that for us to win the World Series this year, we're gonna need him to be an active part of our team.

And so I hope it doesn't get to that point. We're not there yet.

I think that this is, for me, given to how he's come into the postseason too small of a sample. And he's taken two walks.

So tomorrow is not gonna be the end-all, be-all because Sale is a tough match-up, but I still want to see good at-bats.

Q. With him, do you feel like it's more mental trying to do too much, or do you think that there might still be some adjustment coming back from the hand?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think there's trying to do too much. I think that clearly when he came back he was swinging the bat really well, had success and then I think now there's a little bit of trying too much, yeah.

Q. Last night after the game we were told Blake Snell was not available to the media due to a family matter. Is he here with the team? And is it anything that would impact his availability going forward?

DAVE ROBERTS: Won't affect his ability going forward. I apologize for that. That is something that they worked through with the family situation, and they're all good, which is great. And he's with us.

Q. When you've watched Ohtani's at-bats the first two games, do you still see a player compensating for an injury or a physical problem? Or do you just see a player who hasn't had enough game action in the last month?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think a combo, like most things. I think that the amount of at-bats leading up to it, it was, I think, five games, I think you still -- I felt good about having some at-bats to finish the season, the at-bats that he took in the bye week.

I think there's, like we've talked about, he's not 100 percent.

But at the end of the day, he can still do a better job of staying in the strike zone. I don't think that that has anything to do with -- he had the five games. He had the at-bats in between. I think that's something that -- it's hard to have success when you're out of the zone.

And Shohei understands, any hitter understands that. So I think that's the thing is -- then the question is how do we get him into it? I think there's a little bit of trying to do too much. I think that's a piece.

Everything orbits around Shohei in the sense of his talent. And the Braves are going to enter with caution. And, so, knowing that, they're going to continue to expand as long as we keep giving that to them. So until we show some discipline, they're going to continue to kind of use that playbook.

Q. Last year, he had a rough series against the Phillies. Seemed to get a little angry about the criticism and took it out on the Brewers. Is he in a position where he can explode like that now, or is he just not there right now?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think so. I think as far as, like, the bat speed. When I see him running, the foot speed is still there, the leg strength is still there. I think it's just more of -- I do think that's possible, absolutely.

Q. When you're looking at Ohtani and Pages or even other guys that have struggled the last couple of games, like Will and Tommy, I mean, obviously, it's only two games, but in a short series like this, when you have the match-up you're gonna have tomorrow, do you consider either moving guys around in the lineup or making just other changes to the lineup going into tomorrow night?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think so. I am concerned. I think that's a very fair question. I think that I have to be mindful of, it's two games, and then with the two games, what have I seen? Are we seeing good at-bats? I think Will Smith has taken good at-bats, just missing some pitches, taking good swings, not chasing much, versus other people maybe expanding, trying to do too much.

So those are things that you're trying to make bets. And then you're looking at tomorrow with Sale, history -- albeit he's had a lot of success against our guys -- recency, how I feel guys will prepare for Sale. And then with Mahle in Game 3. So yeah, I'm thinking through that and there's possibly kind of some changes.

Q. How much going into tomorrow do you guys go back and look at that game against him in August and obviously other times you faced him? And when you think back to that game in August, like, what is it that he did so well that you got to adjust to before you see him again tomorrow?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, we do. I think that, and obviously, Chris and the pitching staff, they're going to do their thing. And what worked, I'm sure they're going to continue to explore it. And if it ain't broke, don't fix it type mindset.

I think it was the fastball, just sort of bullied us with the fastball at the top of the zone, and then there was some chase down below. And with the lefties throwing more two-seamers to keep us honest and to then expand away.

Q. And how much confidence do you have just having Yoshi ready to go opposite him tomorrow?

DAVE ROBERTS: Feel great. And that's the thing, there should be a lot of talk about Chris Sale, but our guy has been pretty dang good and has been a very good pitcher in the postseason. So we feel very good about that.

Now, going out there, defending the way we should, capable of. And then on the other side just -- it's going to be a good fight. I think both pitchers are going to pitch well. And it's kind of who grinds out at-bats best.

Q. Shohei is obviously aware of the lack of power and production over the last six weeks. How much of his unusual chase rate since coming back do you feel is him trying to fix that with one swing?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think there's something to that. Hitting homers, slugging, it's part of his hallmark in the batter's box. He's very in tune with what's being said, what he hasn't done.

But to be quite honest, that at-bat yesterday, the block base hit the other way, that's something that is production. And I think that's something where, against a guy like Chris Sale, gives you a chance.

And trying to chase slug tomorrow night might not be the right plan, given the starter. But I do think that, yeah, there's something because he feels the responsibility to kind of slug. But that's not the case. That's kind of the compete, competitor in him.

Q. And you're still planning on Glasnow for Game 4?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yes.

Q. You mentioned you want to stick with Andy at this point. Sounds like you want to stick with Shohei. I'm just wondering, knowing that you still have all night to think about it, what are the options you would see if you were going to make a lineup change?

DAVE ROBERTS: Well, given for tomorrow night, I mean, if you're looking at tomorrow night, you've got Kike, you've got Miggy Ro, you've got Muncy. We've got good options. I don't see Josue De Paula being an option. I don't see myself sitting Will Smith.

At the end of the day, our guys are our guys. And, yeah, I can tweak a lineup. I can kind of insert, take out a player or two. But at the end of the day we still have got to go out there and play and execute and take good at-bats.

Q. And a lot of times you, and in fairness to other managers too, will say, I've got a guy who is scuffling, I want to take some pressure off, I know there's a lot of pressure on him, I'm going to move him down the lineup. Would you ever do that with Shohei?

DAVE ROBERTS: I would. I would. I think it's something that, you know, I think moving him from 1 to 2 -- but going further than that? I'm open to it. And it's something that if I do, I would obviously have the conversation with Shohei to explain why.

And at the end of the day every conversation I've had with him is whatever's best for the team, he's all in on. So I know that undoubtedly.

Q. If you win tomorrow, you'll have 71 postseason wins, tied with Tony La Russa for second all time. What does that mean to you?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's special. I hope that happens. I have a lot of respect for Tony and the managers that have done what I'm doing; they've done it for a long time.

So anytime you're in a conversation with people that have done great things for a very long period of time, it's very humbling. It's hard to imagine because I grew up watching him and admiring him.

Q. You have just talked about when you guys saw Chris Sale in August and what that match-up looked like. But just considering where the team was at that time, does it feel that it's just, yes, there are some guys who are working through a few things, or maybe you're seeing a little more chase right now, but does it feel like the offense in general is in a different spot than they were the last time they saw him?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think so, yeah, I do. I think that we were certainly scuffling. I think, yeah, yesterday wasn't the best performance, but I do think that we are in a different spot. The stakes are certainly higher.

There's familiarity on both sides, obviously. I think we'll see better at-bats. Chris is going to be tough regardless, we know that. We know we're going to be in for a dogfight, but I just don't see him bullying us like he did his last start.