– The Dodgers don’t want to overreact to a two-game sample size.
asserted
Dodgers → want → size
But, with elimination all of a sudden just two games away, they don’t want to wait too long to make changes either.
asserted
they → want → changes
That’s what dynamic manager Dave Roberts was grappling with on Monday, as the Dodgers gathered at Truist Park in Atlanta ahead of Game 3 of their National League Division Series against the Braves.
asserted
Dodgers → ’ → Braves
A daunting challenge awaits on Tuesday night, when the club will face Braves ace Chris Sale for the first time since he threw a complete-game shutout against them in August.
asserted
he → await → August
Thus, even though the team’s quest for a World Series three-peat just began, potential lineup changes were already under consideration.
asserted
changes → begin → consideration
“I am considering [changes],” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → consider → changes
“I think that’s a very fair question.”
asserted
that → think → ?
That didn’t mean Roberts was ready to commit to any significant alterations ahead of a pivotal Game 3, with the best-of-five series tied one game apiece.
asserted
series → mean → five
He noted the danger of reading too far into small playoff sample sizes this early in the postseason.
asserted
He → note → postseason
Still, he said there were things he was “thinking through” and “possibly kind of some changes” that could be enacted on Tuesday.
uncertain
that → say → Tuesday
Another, more notable potential option: Moving Ohtani even further down the order from his current No. 2 spot, after he went just 2-for-8 in the first two games of the NLDS while continuing to battle right arm and left knee injuries.
asserted
he → move → injuries
“[We already moved] him from 1 to 2 –– but going further than that?
asserted
We → move → that
I’m open to it,” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → ’m → it
“It’s something that, if I do, I would obviously have the conversation with Shohei to explain why.”
asserted
I → ’ → Shohei
In Ohtani’s currently diminished physical state, he has simply not been the same presence at the top of the order that the Dodgers have grown accustomed to from the four-time MVP.
asserted
Dodgers → diminish → MVP
“Like we’ve talked about, he’s not 100%,” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → talk → ?
But also, “I think there’s a little bit of [him also] trying to do too much,” Roberts added.
asserted
Roberts → think → much
“I think that’s a piece.”
asserted
that → think → ?
Indeed, Ohtani has suffered from a futile combination so far in the playoffs, failing to either punish pitches over the plate or keep from chasing out of the strike zone.
asserted
Ohtani → suffer → zone
“It’s hard to have success when you’re out of the zone,” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → ’ → zone
“So I think that’s the thing, then the question is: How do we get him [attacking pitches back] into it?”
asserted
him → think → it
A change of mindset could help, especially against a premium pitcher like Sale (who has held Ohtani to a 3-for-15 mark with five strikeouts and only one double in their career head-to-head matchups).
uncertain
who → help → matchups
“Trying to chase slug tomorrow night might not be the right plan, given the starter,” Roberts said.
uncertain
Roberts → try → starter
Instead, Roberts pointed to the opposite-field single Ohtani slapped past a shift for his lone hit in Sunday’s Game 2 loss.
asserted
Ohtani → point → loss
“That at-bat yesterday, the block base hit the other way, that’s something that is production,” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → hit → bat
“I think that’s something where, against a guy like Chris Sale, it gives you a chance.”
asserted
it → think → chance
The Dodgers, of course, would love to get more pop from Ohtani, who led the team with eight home runs during last year’s World Series trek.
asserted
who → love → trek
Roberts also knows the slugger “feels the responsibility” to provide such power, which might be contributing to his lack of plate discipline.
uncertain
which → know → discipline
Thus, for now, taking the pressure off Ohtani’s shoulders by potentially hitting him lower in the lineup might also prove to be prudent.
uncertain
taking → take → lineup
“At the end of the day, every conversation I’ve had with him is whatever’s best for the team,” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → have → team
“And he’s all in on [that].
asserted
he → ’ → that
I know that undoubtedly.”
asserted
I → know → that
While Roberts will contemplate other changes beyond Ohtani’s spot in the order, there were a few ideas he outright struck down Monday night.
asserted
he → contemplate → order
The big one: Removing Andy Pages from the batting order despite his 0-for-7 start in the playoffs –– one that has felt reminiscent of his historic struggles last October, and been further marred by a consequential ABS challenge he missed in Game 1.
asserted
he → remove → Game
While Roberts said he feels Pages has been “trying to do too much” –– downplaying any lingering effects from the fractured hand that sidelined the center fielder for most of September –– he also said he wanted to give the 25-year-old slugger more leash.
asserted
he → say → leash
“I believe in him,” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → believe → him
“And I feel that for us to win the World Series this year, we’re gonna need him to be an active part of our team.”
asserted
him → feel → team
That was all part of the balance Roberts was trying to strike with his team’s season potentially hanging in the balance.
asserted
season → try → balance
It might still feel early for drastic changes.
uncertain
It → feel → changes
“Our guys are our guys,” Roberts said.
asserted
Roberts → say → ?
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
