Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made several costly mistakes in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, mistakes that ultimately played into the loss.
Roberts made several questionable choices in the sixth and seventh innings, and the Brewers capitalized on them.
The pinch-hit errors
In the sixth inning, Teoscar Hernandez allowed a leadoff walk, while Kyle Tucker walked shortly after.
With Andy Pages, one of the best hitters this postseason and an elite defender, due up, Roberts pulled Pages for Max Muncy to face righty Abner Uribe.
Muncy struck out swinging, but Shohei Ohtani drew a walk, loading the bases with one out. Will Smith, one of baseball’s most clutch hitters, hit a double, scoring two runs and giving the team a 2-1 lead.
Then, Roberts made some questionable calls. Uribe, who totally failed to find the strike zone, was bound to come out.
Before the Brewers made the bullpen call, Roberts had Josue De Paula pinch-hit for Miguel Rojas, but when he saw lefty DL Hall emerge, Roberts burned De Paula for Kike Hernandez.
This move left the Dodgers with just one possible pinch-hitter, Hunter Feduccia.
Worst of all, Kike Hernandez struck out swinging, and no one could pinch-hit for a struggling Tommy Edman, who also struck out.
De Paula is the team’s most talented and surging hitter, and losing him without an at-bat was brutal, given that the Dodgers offense didn’t score after the sixth inning.
Should Roberts have pulled Snell?
In the top of the seventh inning, Blake Snell walked the first batter, looking to be struggling with command after six innings.
Rather than pull Snell in the moment, Roberts kept Snell in, and Snell allowed a home run to Jake Bauers on the 11th pitch of the at-bat.
Then Snell stayed in for another at-bat and gave up a changeup home run, giving the Brewers a 4-2 lead.
Did these decisions matter?
In the end, the Dodgers’ hitters failed to deliver for most of the game and throughout the series, which put the team in this position.
Additionally, the starting rotation has failed to meet expectations overall. Many factors beyond Roberts led to the Dodgers losing Game 3 and the series 0-3, but these decisions played a non-insignificant role.