David Ray Roberts, nicknamed "Doc", is a Japanese-American professional baseball manager and former outfielder who is the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. Under the current MLB playoff format, division winners are falling like foul pop-ups in the stands. In the National League, both Philadelphia and Milwaukee have already exited, while in the American League, Houston is out of the picture and Cleveland is behind Detroit. The Los Angeles Dodgers are barely hanging on after defeating the San Diego Padres, 8-0, in an elimination game at Petco Park, setting the stage for an all-or-nothing Game 5 with uncertainty surrounding their starting pitcher. The New York Yankees are the only team with an edge heading into Game 4 against Kansas City after edging past the Royals, 3-2.
It has become evident after three years of this playoff structure that division winners often enter the Division Series flat, having to wait around for five days while wild card teams are in action. This trend is no longer merely a pattern; it's a reality. No National League division winner has advanced to the League Championship Series in the current playoff setup.
The Dodgers, for example, have a 3-8 record in NL Division Series play since 2022. Some suggest that extending the Division Series to a best-of-seven format could benefit division winners by providing them more time to sharpen their skills.
“Right now, I wish it were seven games. Obviously, the seven-game series certainly gives a better test of the opponents. We’ll see if we can work on that. But I definitely like the seven-game series for sure," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday's game.
Dodgers record against Padres
For now, the Dodgers must navigate the current system, and they came through when it mattered most against the Padres on Wednesday night. Without a healthy starting pitcher, the Dodgers relied entirely on their bullpen. First baseman Freddie Freeman was a last-minute scratch due to a high right ankle sprain, and shortstop Miguel Rojas was sidelined with injuries. Yet, when they needed it most, the Dodgers, featuring eight pitchers and a lineup worth $1.4 billion, triumphed over the Padres.
This victory sets up a decisive Game 5 on Friday evening at Dodger Stadium, where the winner will face the New York Mets in the best-of-seven NL Championship Series starting Sunday, either in Los Angeles or San Diego. The pitching duel could showcase two Japanese pitchers: veteran Yu Darvish for the Padres and rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the Dodgers. Padres manager Mike Shildt has confirmed Darvish's start, while Roberts has not finalized his decision but indicated Yamamoto is being considered.
Darvish missed three months
Darvish, who missed three months during the season for personal reasons, excelled in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium, throwing seven innings of one-run, three-hit ball to secure a 10-2 win. In Game 4, the Dodger bullpen effectively contained the Padres, allowing only seven hits, three of which came late in the game when the outcome was no longer in doubt. This strategy may be employed again. Both the Padres and Dodgers hold home-field advantage over the Mets, who defeated the NL East champion Phillies 4-1 to clinch their NLDS, highlighted by a Game 4 grand slam from Francisco Lindor at Citi Field.
It’s striking that a team like the Dodgers, with a $241 million payroll, is struggling to find enough starting pitching for the playoffs. The two-way star Ohtani, signed for $700 million over ten years, is still recovering from right elbow surgery and won’t pitch again until next season. Yamamoto, also one of the Dodgers’ highest-paid players with a 12-year, $325 million deal, missed nearly two months due to a right shoulder injury and lasted only three innings in Game 1, giving up five runs despite the Dodgers coming back to win 7-5.
This situation makes Roberts hesitant to name a starter for critical Game 5.
“We don’t have a Game 5 starter yet. Fortunately, our pen was very efficient. So, we have some options," Roberts said.
Betts's achievements
Mookie Betts, who is on a 12-year, $365 million contract, ignited the Dodgers' offense early, batting second in the lineup behind Ohtani. Betts hit a first-inning homer, and Ohtani contributed with a second-inning RBI single, reaching base five times in the game with a homer, two singles, and two walks.
Betts has now hit first-inning home runs in consecutive games. It might have been three in a row if San Diego's Jurickson Profar hadn't snagged a potential homer in the stands during Game 3 at Dodger Stadium.
“If that one fell, maybe we’re talking differently now (about the series),” Betts said.
Betts has turned it around with a 4-for-9 stretch.
“I hit. Kept hitting. That’s all I’ve been doing. That’s what I know. I work. I had to turn off all social media because that was all negative. And I worked hard and finally saw one fall, and I think we’re all right now," he explained.
With Freeman struggling, starting pitching in a precarious state, and no Game 7 in the Division Series, the timing couldn’t be better. “We’ve got a Game 5. That’s all I’m really focused on," Betts said.
