Anatomy of a World Series Decision: The Roberts’ Approach

In the high-pressure crucible of the World Series, Los Angeles Dodgers’ skipper, Dave Roberts, found himself at a strategic crossroads during the fourth game. He faced a dilemma rarely encountered in such an intense setting: to deploy his top relievers with the hope of a comeback, or to conserve them for potential future games by opting for lower-leverage pitchers. In the 11-4 defeat to the New York Yankees in Wednesday’s Game 4, Roberts elected for the latter approach.

Game 4: A Calculated Punt or Strategic Masterstroke?

The Dodgers, despite the loss, still maintained a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. This position, only one win away from clinching the championship, left Roberts hoping his decision would pay dividends in the imminent games. “It’s a tough call,” Roberts confessed, “But you have to be confident you can put runs on the board. Any pitcher we used tonight would not have been available for tomorrow.”

In the preceding Game 3, the Dodgers had exhausted six of their critical relievers, who jointly delivered 100 pitches. The strategy secured them a crucial win and a commanding lead in the series but left them vulnerable in the bullpen game scheduled for the following day.

The Unlikely Heroes and Their Battle

The Dodgers turned to the less-recognized Ben Casparius and Landon Knack to handle the bulk of the early innings. They held the fort admirably, conceding only two runs across six of the initial seven innings. However, instead of resorting to his high-leverage bullpen in the crucial eighth inning, Roberts entrusted the ball to Brent Honeywell Jr., a long reliever low on the priority list. Honeywell Jr. struggled, yielding five runs and turning Game 4 into a one-sided affair.

Challenging Circumstances and Future Hopes

The Dodgers found themselves handicapped early on. A first-inning two-run homer from Freddie Freeman, setting a record for six consecutive World Series games with a home run since 2021, was followed by a Yankee onslaught in the second and third innings. The only high-leverage reliever the Dodgers employed, Daniel Hudson, found himself up against a Yankee lineup in full swing.

Despite their bullpen game strategy backfiring in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) and Game 4 of this round, the Dodgers are hopeful. Should the World Series extend back to Los Angeles, they have Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler lined up for Games 6 and 7 respectively.

Looking Ahead to Game 5

For Game 5, set at Yankee Stadium, Jack Flaherty is set to face off against Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole. Flaherty will be backed by a fully rested bullpen, including Blake Treinen, who has been employed four times for four or more outs this postseason, and will be four days removed from his last appearance. Other relievers like Brusdar Graterol, Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda, Ryan Brasier, and Michael Kopech will also be well-rested.

Roberts and the Dodgers are now hoping that their calculated sacrifice of one game will reap dividends in the upcoming matches. “We were aware it was a bullpen game,” Roberts concluded. “Looking at the outcomes – having six relievers in your bullpen who are feeling good and rested, I feel good about that. And being up 3-1.”