NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: DODGERS VS BREWERS

October 15, 2026

Dave Roberts

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 4 Press Conference

Q. We saw the lineup, and there's an unexpected name at the top. How did you come to the conclusion that Shohei was ready to get back to the leadoff spot?

DAVE ROBERTS: Just seeing the work the last couple days, I like where his head is at. I just really -- I liked the at-bats yesterday, and I felt that trying to shake it up a little bit. Obviously we haven't performed the way that we're capable of, so to kind of shake it up a little bit but something that's of somewhat normalcy that our guys are used to.

Q. And a couple of the other moves, Kiké and Miguel are, I assume, a response to the expectation of their opener?

DAVE ROBERTS: No, I just think it's more of the starter who's starting today. I still -- I love Miggy Ro against a lefty and to kind of give them that opportunity and force their hand and having Muncy in the holster for either Kiké or Miggy Ro at some point in time. Yeah, I like having Kiké in there in a game like this.

Q. Will Yamamoto be available for you out of the bullpen tonight?

DAVE ROBERTS: No. We have -- our bullpen is rested, very, very capable. You've still got to win four, but obviously you've got to win one first, and I completely understand that. But the short answer, no.

Q. There's been some speculation, especially looking at the Bauers at-bats the last couple games or some others, that you guys were tipping pitches or they knew what was coming. Is there anything you've sensed or looked into the last couple days?

DAVE ROBERTS: We're always kind of mindful of stuff like that, but I don't think that's the case given the prior at-bats that Blake had against those guys. At the end of the day, you've got to give credit where credit is due, and he put together a really good at-bat and homered. So I don't think there's anything to that.

Q. Do you feel like this series you haven't really been able to play like your brand of baseball? And if you do feel that's the case, how do you get back to doing that tonight?

DAVE ROBERTS: Well, yes. I think for me it's you've just got to go and play. Where we're at right now, you've just got to win a game. The worst thing that could happen is we lose and we go home.

So now with that, I think for us it's just play free and easy. The facts are we haven't hit. We've got two extra base hits in the series. So our baseball is hitting, slugging, and we haven't done it, but there's still today. They've still got to beat us today.

I like the way guys came in, but our brand of baseball is we prevent runs, and we hit and score. The last part's been a little bit more difficult, but like I said, we've got today.

Q. And as part of like the way that you've configured your lineup, moving Shohei up and Will up, that it's an elimination game and in a game like this, you need to stick with the guys who got you here in a sense?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think it's a combo of that, and they've all got us here -- but it's a combo of that, it's a combo of how guys are seeing the ball or swinging the bats currently. I thought Will took very good at-bats, big hit yesterday. He's been in big spots. So it's sort of a combo.

I think getting back to what we've done all year and how it's been going recently as far as on the offense, I think it warranted just a little bit of a shakeup.

Q. You've woken up on a day like this before, both as a player now as a manager. Do you sleep at all, and what's on your mind going into it?

DAVE ROBERTS: Tossed and turned a little bit. Woke up good. I don't know, I think it's just more of what do we have to lose? I think for me it's just more of just go and lead these guys in the sense of just the mindset. I just don't want us to be uptight. We have been here before as far as playing elimination games. There might not be a tomorrow, so we have to play like that, and I expect we will.

With that, you've got to play free and easy. That's imperative.

Q. Back to Shohei, how and when did you tell him he's the leadoff guy today? And if you told him directly, what was his response or reaction?

DAVE ROBERTS: I didn't tell him; I just posted the lineup.

Q. So he didn't know -- he doesn't --

DAVE ROBERTS: No.

Q. We all know that you were part of the only team that's come back from down 3-0 to win. We all know about your stolen base. Do you remember anything about the lead-up to that game, what your mindset was, what the team's mindset was in Game 4 in '04? Is there anything you can draw from that to help these guys today facing the same thing?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, I think the thing we realized is no one in this room thinks -- and no one in that room back in 2004 thought -- we could win the World Series or get to the World Series; but at the end of the day, all that mattered are the guys in the room. So it's very daunting.

That's what that group did a great job of. We've got nothing to lose. No one thinks we can beat the Yankees down 3-0. No one thinks we're going to come back in this series. But the most important thing is what those guys believe. That's probably the biggest take-away that I recall.

Q. It seems like over the last two days there's been a renewed reasserting of the faith in Shohei, for sticking with him yesterday and moving him back to the leadoff spot today. Is there an element of, if you're going to go down, you want to go down with maybe the greatest player in the history of our sport, like batting leadoff and being a big part of what you guys are trying to do?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, there is something to that, absolutely, but also I think the player still has to give -- you hope -- like to believe in, to bet on. Where I think that the work, being here till 9:00 two nights ago working, the at-bats yesterday, for me baking all that in, I felt absolutely, put him at the top. I feel good about him taking five at-bats and giving us our best chance to win and produce runs today.