After dropping Game 4 of the World Series 6–2 to the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sounded like a man ready to make adjustments. Asked postgame if he was considering a lineup change before Wednesday’s pivotal Game 5, Roberts didn’t hesitate.
“I think so,” he told reporters. “I’m going to think long and hard, and it might look a little bit different tomorrow.”
The Dodgers, who led the National League in OPS, home runs, and runs scored during the regular season, suddenly look out of sync. The series now stands even at 2–2, and the defending champions are hitting just .214 overall and .207 with runners in scoring position.
“We haven’t found our rhythm,” Roberts admitted. “It sort of draws dead at certain parts of the lineup and different innings. Guys are competing, but you’re seeing everyone’s best in the postseason. My hope is we regroup tomorrow, gather what we learned from [Trey] Yesavage, and get on the fastball.”
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Searching for Answers at the Bottom of the Lineup
Vote For Your Favorite Dodgers Duo: Ohtani – Yamamoto, Betts – Freeman, Hernandez – Hernandez
The biggest problem has come from the lower half of the order. Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani have largely done their part atop the lineup, but several bats have gone cold. Andy Pages, Tommy Edman, and Kiké Hernández have combined to hit just .147 in the series — production that’s simply unsustainable at this stage.
Pages, in particular, has struggled mightily. He’s 4-for-50 this postseason (.080) with a .215 OPS. That’s prompted Roberts to explore alternatives. “Essentially, it’s am I gonna play Andy (Pages), am I gonna play (Alex) Call, or am I gonna play Miggy Ro (Miguel Rojas)?” he said. “Just kind of trying to think through all that stuff and net it out and see what gives us the best chance tomorrow.”
Call, who’s 4-for-9 in limited October at-bats, may get his opportunity. If Roberts opts for him or Rojas, it could also trigger positional shuffling — potentially moving Edman to center field and Rojas to second base.
Dodgers Need a Spark
Los Angeles managed just six hits Tuesday against a Blue Jays bullpen that was running on fumes after an 18-inning marathon the night before. With Toronto countering in Game 5 with right-hander Trey Yesavage — who held the Dodgers in check in Game 1 — Roberts knows his team needs a jolt.
It’s not panic time yet, but the urgency is real. A lineup change won’t fix everything, but for a team this talented, doing nothing might be the bigger risk.
