Roberts’ Bullpen Moves Backfire in Dodgers’ World Series Game 4

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ momentum in the World Series took a hard hit in Game 4. Manager Dave Roberts’ controversial bullpen moves played a major role in a 6-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Just 24 hours after an epic 18-inning win in Game 3, Roberts’ seventh-inning pitching changes turned a close contest into a decisive Toronto victory. The series is now even at two games apiece, and fans and analysts are not happy.

Roberts’ Seventh-Inning Gamble Backfires

With star pitcher Shohei Ohtani cruising through six innings, Los Angeles looked poised to take control. Ohtani had thrown only 93 pitches, allowing six hits and a single walk, and he seemed calm under pressure.

Then Roberts made a switch in the seventh. He pulled Ohtani after runners reached second and third with no outs.

Matchup-Based Decisions Go Awry

Roberts called on left-hander Anthony Banda, hoping for favorable matchups against Toronto’s lefty hitters. The plan was based on data, but the results weren’t pretty.

Banda carried a postseason ERA of 7.36 into the game and quickly gave up an RBI single to Andres Gimenez. Another run scored on a groundout, and suddenly the Dodgers’ narrow 2-1 deficit grew.

The Treinen Trouble

Roberts tried to stop the bleeding by bringing in veteran reliever Blake Treinen, another bullpen arm who’d struggled this postseason. Treinen’s 9.00 ERA didn’t inspire much confidence.

Treinen allowed consecutive RBI singles to Bo Bichette and Addison Barger. Toronto’s lead swelled to 6-1, and Game 4 felt out of reach.

Fans and Analysts Speak Out

Social media exploded after the collapse. Many questioned Roberts’ decision-making and his reliance on two relievers who hadn’t delivered all postseason.

Critics argued that with Ohtani still effective and not near a typical pitch limit, pulling him seemed premature and risky. In such a crucial matchup, it just didn’t add up for a lot of people.

Roberts Defends His Choices

After the game, Roberts defended his decisions. He explained that he wanted pitchers who could get strikeouts with runners in scoring position.

Roberts called Ohtani’s performance “a good effort,” but said his choices were about matchups and pressure situations. You can see his logic, but it’s not winning over everyone.

Game 5: Snell vs. Yesavage

Now the focus shifts to Game 5. The Dodgers will send Blake Snell to the mound against Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage.

After the mess in Game 4, Banda and Treinen probably won’t see high-leverage spots. This opens the door for others to step up on baseball’s biggest stage.

Key Factors Going Forward

For Los Angeles to bounce back in Game 5, a few things need to go right:

• Strong starting pitching from Snell – A quality start keeps pressure off the bullpen.
• Effective bullpen management – Relievers with solid postseason track records should handle big moments.
• Timely hitting – Consistency at the plate can cover for pitching moves that don’t work out.
• Emotional reset – The team has to move past the Game 4 collapse if they want a shot.

Final Thoughts

Managing a pitching staff in the postseason isn’t just about crunching numbers. There’s a lot of gut instinct involved, too.

Roberts leaned hard on matchups in Game 4, but that strategy just didn’t land. The backlash came fast—and honestly, it was pretty fierce.

Game 5 feels huge. The series is tied, the pressure’s on, and every single pitching call is going to get picked apart. There’s no room for mistakes now.

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