Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t get enough credit for the three World Series rings he has brought to LA. People assume that since the roster is loaded with superstars, wins are automatic. That would be an incorrect assumption.
Baseball is a grind, and Roberts still has to push the right buttons. He did so the vast majority of the time for the last two seasons. He benched Andy Pages last year in Game 7 of the World Series, inserting him as a defensive replacement late in the game. Pages makes a game-saving catch. Veteran Miguel Rojas gets the nod over a younger player and hits a game-tying home run in the ninth.
However, this year, some in-game maneuvering has backfired. Most notably, when the Dodgers had a chance to climb back in the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night. The chance disappeared within one inning, thanks to some managerial decisions.
Dave Roberts’ Questionable Decisions Contribute to Dodgers’ NLCS Hole
Burning the Bench
In the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 3, Brewers’ right-hander Abner Uribe walked Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker. Roberts decided to pitch-hit for the Gold Glove finalist center fielder Pages, who, by the way, has one of the only hits with runners in scoring position this postseason for Los Angeles, for Max Muncy. Muncy has been struggling in the series, has suddenly lost plate discipline, and is swinging for the fences. He promptly struck out. Shohei Ohtani then worked a walk, loading the bases. Will Smith followed with a two-run double.
Dave Roberts’ questionable decisions in NLCS Game 3:
– Starting Tommy Edman
– Max Muncy hits for Andy Pages (0 outs in 6th)
– Burning Josue De Paula and then Kiké Hernandez (only Hunter Feduccia left on bench)
– Leaving Blake Snell in after leadoff walk and home runNot good. https://t.co/kFeRdDKNi6
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) October 15, 2026
It’s obvious that Uribe isn’t long for the game, but Roberts doesn’t wait for Brewers manager Pat Murphy to make the move for a left-hander before Josue De Paula is announced as a pinch hitter. Roberts had the option of seeing Murphy make the move before burning Rojas, who has been great against left-handers this season, for De Paula.
However, it gets worse. De Paula has displayed great discipline at the plate, regardless of which pitcher he is facing. But the youngster didn’t get the chance to prove his ability as the best pinch hitter off the bench because he was pulled in favor of Kiké Hernández, who has not shown very much plate discipline or the ability to make contact this year.
The Dodgers didn’t need a home run. They needed someone to make contact and get an insurance run. Hernández chased a pitch out of the zone and struck out. Tommy Edman followed suit, and the rally and inning ended. The only player available to pinch hit with nine outs remaining? Hunter Feduccia. The Dodgers never got another chance in Game 3.
Leaving the Starter Out to Dry
Blake Snell had an abbreviated season before Wednesday’s start. Multiple injuries had plagued him the entire year. Consequently, the left-hander had thrown a maximum of 80 pitches in the entire year. It is true that he had retired 14 batters in a row. However, Snell came out in the seventh inning after sitting for a long bottom of the sixth, having already thrown 80-plus pitches.
Snell walked the first batter he faced, which is often a sign of fatigue. Unfortunately, there was no one warming in the bullpen, despite the fact that Roberts said that he would manage last night’s game as an elimination contest.
Within the next 13 pitches, the Brewers hit back-to-back homers off the Cy Young Award winner, practically sealing the victory. Blake Snell wears it but deserved better.
The Last Word
There is no question that Dave Roberts is a Hall of Fame manager. But this series is not one of his finest moments. If the Dodgers lose the NLCS to the Brewers, it is not solely on Roberts. The primary reason for the defeat will be Los Angeles’ lack of offensive execution. Through Game 3, they had two hits all series with runners in scoring position. However, Roberts’ job is to put his players in the best possible position to succeed. He did the opposite in the span of an inning. Thus digging the deficit deeper with an 0-3 hole. As a result, the chance at a historic three-peat may soon be a distant memory.
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Main Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images