Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts found himself back in the postseason spotlight — and not in the way he might have hoped — after pulling Blake Snell just three outs away from completing one of the most dominant playoff outings in recent memory.
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Roberts’ Risky Move
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Snell was nothing short of spectacular in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 10 over eight shutout innings while allowing just one hit. With the Dodgers holding a slim 2–0 lead, Roberts made the stunning call to pull Snell at 103 pitches and hand the ball to rookie reliever Roki Sasaki.
“It was a tough call,” Roberts told reporters afterward. “Blake was fantastic, but we’re thinking about the big picture — not just tonight, but the rest of the series. He was at 103 pitches, and with how Roki’s been throwing in the ninth lately, it felt like the right move. Plus, if we’re looking at getting Blake back on regular rest for Game 5, that factored in as well.”
Sasaki had been lights out in October, but the moment got tight quickly. After a walk and a ground-rule double, the Brewers pushed across a run with a sacrifice fly before Roberts turned to Blake Treinen to secure the final out.
Dodgers Escape, But Debate Flares
The Dodgers survived 2–1, yet Roberts’ decision reignited the familiar debate about analytics versus instinct. Snell had faced the minimum through eight innings — the first pitcher to do so in a postseason game since 1956 — and showed no sign of slowing down.
Still, Snell took the move in stride. “Yeah, I felt I could have [gone back out],” he said. “But I trust Dave. He knows what’s best for the team.”
A Masterpiece Preserved
Freddie Freeman called Snell’s performance “a masterpiece,” praising the ace’s changeup that baffled hitters all night. Through three postseason starts, Snell owns a 0.86 ERA, two runs allowed in 21 innings, and just five total hits surrendered.
For Roberts, the gamble was about more than one inning — it was about preserving an ace for the long haul. For Snell, it was another reminder that even brilliance on the mound sometimes takes a back seat to the Dodgers’ bigger picture.