NL WILDCARD GAME: DODGERS VS CARDINALS

October 5, 2021

Dave Roberts

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Dave, do you happen to have an update on Max Muncy? Any testing that he's undergone just yet?

DAVE ROBERTS: He did some testing. So what we do know is that there's not a UCL tear. It's not going to require surgery. As of right now, that's our expectation.

Still trying to hold out a glimmer of hope that he'll be able to join us later on in the postseason. So I don't know what that really means, but I do know that he's been known to heal quickly, and he's determined to try to come help us in any way he can, so I don't want to close the door completely on that.

So I guess right now, looking at where we were on Sunday, it's probably the best-case scenario than originally we saw.

Q. So it didn't get through the UCL?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's not to the UCL. I know, obviously, it's the elbow region, but I think specifically there was no UCL tear, so then now you're kind of introducing ligaments, tendons, muscles, and things like that.

So right now it's really sore. Range of motion, not good, which is to be expected.

So it's something that we feel that with time and rehab he'll be fine and back to normal, but what it means for the next four weeks, that's kind of the wait and see.

Q. (Question regarding first base.)

DAVE ROBERTS: I haven't decided who's going to start at first base tomorrow. Obviously, guys that we have actively -- Beaty, Pujols, Cody's played some first base obviously, more in years past. McKinney potentially could be on the roster, who plays at first base.

So we've got some options, but I'm going to think about it for another 24 hours. If a guy starts a game, he may not finish the game there, trying to keep some optionality with the lineup, with the defense, all that stuff.

Q. (Question regarding Kershaw.)

DAVE ROBERTS: Clayton, the great thing is that the scans show that there's no ligament damage, so that's something that is a sigh of relief for everyone. It's sort of he's working out as per usual. Obviously, we don't expect him back for this postseason, but I think that short, long term, not to have any ligament damage was a huge sigh of relief for all of us.

Q. (Question regarding Muncy.)

DAVE ROBERTS: Who's that?

Q. With Max Muncy. Unlikely for the DS?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think with Max, the potential DS, very unlikely. Then I think from that, right now, I'll just wait and hold judgment moving forward.

Q. And with Kershaw, want to make sure Tommy John surgery is not on the table?

DAVE ROBERTS: On the table, correct. Which is good news.

Q. Where does Gavin fit (indiscernible) are you willing to promote someone tomorrow night?

DAVE ROBERTS: I'm considering it. The last few weeks Gavin's done a lot of good things as far as versatility, as far as, in specific, the offense. The truth of the matter is he hasn't played a whole lot of outfield, and I do think that the incident in left centerfield took some innings away, as far as kind of giving him more chances out there.

I'm certainly considering it. Whether it's a start, whether it's to fill in, it's a possibility. Having his bat available in a spot also makes sense to me. So, yeah, Gavin's in the mix to be in centerfield if I want to put Cody at first base.

Q. How has he been health-wise?

DAVE ROBERTS: He's fine. He's young and a quick healer. He feels good.

Q. And how about Walker, will he be on the roster tomorrow?

DAVE ROBERTS: Walker will not be on the roster tomorrow.

Q. You have to deal with some injuries, but all season your players have stepped up. How confident and proud are you of the team that will take the field tomorrow?

DAVE ROBERTS: Very confident in the guys that we're going to be fielding tomorrow. And we have had to deal with some things, but I think that every team has, but specifically to our guys, I think that just kind of the mindset of winning one game at a time and not letting things outside of our control affect us, I think we've done a really good job of.

Our only focus now is tomorrow, but for me, the front office, putting together the roster, and for these guys, do whatever they can to prepare to win a ball game. And I can trust that.

Q. Is using Julio an option for tomorrow? Who do you have behind Scherzer?

DAVE ROBERTS: Julio is an option. Obviously, he threw on Saturday, but having him potentially be in there, we're seriously considering that. But when you're talking about one game, there's really not the need for length essentially because you have so many arms at your disposal.

Q. With Cody being your best defensive option in center and first against a Cardinal team, what's more important out there (indiscernible)?

DAVE ROBERTS: Probably nothing. Certainly with Max pitching, a flyball pitcher, outfield defense is a premium. So it certainly weighs into my decision, absolutely.

Q. Just wondering with the Wild Card roster being only one game, does it create opportunities, like Terrance Gore in the past? Do you have like a speed guy? If so, who are your options for that?

DAVE ROBERTS: We don't have that option. With our roster, pinch running for guys doesn't make as much sense because you've also got to replace that guy that you run for. Obviously, Albert's a guy that, if we deploy him and he gets on base, that certainly makes sense, but we don't have that guy.

Q. How important is your team's experience in Game 7s and elimination games?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think it's really important. I think we've had some success in elimination games, and we've done both. But I think that having been able to control the emotions, have those experiences, and a guy taking the mound tomorrow that's done everything essentially in baseball in big games and coming out of them pitching well and understanding what it means and position players behind him and bench guys as well.

So being at home, it's going to be an excited Dodger fan base, loud. We play well at home. But conversely, you've got a pretty veteran team over there in St. Louis. So Wainwright is just as good a competitor as Max is. I think it's going to be a great game, but I do think that for us, kind of leaning on our experience in the past is going to be helpful.

Q. (Question regarding lineup.)

DAVE ROBERTS: I can tell you managing against Trea in a postseason game, it's scary because he can beat you in so many ways. The plan is for him to hit five times, and he's always looming, his spot. Whether it's the slow roller or it's the homer, the double in the gap or the walk, it just -- he just creates tension.

So having him on our club -- and even when he said is, when you talk about a Wild Card, his first -- his look at it is this is fun. So it's like that kind of mindset is helpful for any clubhouse.

Q. How helpful is it that you guys saw Wainwright within the month? And even though they also saw Max, that was in the shadows and probably had trouble seeing the ball.

DAVE ROBERTS: I think it's helpful. Obviously, Wainwright pitched one of his best ball games of the year, really dominated us, to be quite honest. Hopefully, he's going to make adjustments if he needs to. I expect our guys to make the right adjustments too.

Him and Yadi have a great rapport. He's got great command. Waino doesn't give in. It's two-seamer, it's cutter, it's curveball, it's show in once in a while, especially to the righty, once in a while. And it's miss the barrel, soft contact, swing and miss when he needs it.

So we've got to play that cat-and-mouse game. We have all the information, and I know our guys will be ready.

Q. With the offense over the last week, did you see anything maybe that was different?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think the last few weeks, I think we've done a much better job situationally, getting guys over, getting them in without getting a hit. Using the whole field.

With Wainwright tomorrow, we're going to have to do that. Making outs to the pull side is not going to bode well for us.

Team offensive-wise, I think we've done a great job the last few weeks.

Q. With all that experience in elimination games, was there a moment where you kind of noticed this team's confidence and composure in those win-or-go-home situations evolve?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think it's one part of it, I think I've seen it from the pitching, and namely Walker. He's pitching a lot of those elimination games. But I think collectively as an offense, I think that in years past, I think we've been overly aggressive to a detriment, and more recently, we've been in the zone more and taken walks when needed and kind of passing the baton or whatever you want to kind of classify it as.

You look up and down our roster, pretty much everyone, 22 or 23 of the guys that are going to be on this roster, have pitched in big games. So that's something that feels good.

Q. The Wild Card roster construction, you don't have to have 13 pitchers, right?

DAVE ROBERTS: Right.

Q. How many do you think you're going to carry even while you're trying to win this game, you've got to have guys to pitch Friday and Saturday if you win. What are you thinking about doing with that?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think that -- I don't know the exact number, but I think -- you're right. I don't know, I think ten is probably a good number on the pitching side. Playing on Sunday, having everyone available for tomorrow, there won't be a cost if we come out of this game for usage as far as guys in the pen.

The only cost would potentially be Julio if he were to be used, if he were to be on the roster, that would eat into Saturday potentially. But outside of that, there's really no cost.

Yeah, to your question, certainly going to be more position player heavy than normal.

Q. Do you have a one-two setup for the NLDS in your mind if it comes to that?

DAVE ROBERTS: We do, yeah. I think, obviously, I don't want to get too far ahead, but it's obviously Walker would start Game 1 and Julio would start Game 2.

Q. Who fills the roster spot for (indiscernible)?

DAVE ROBERTS: My guess is it's probably going to be a position player. I'm not going to go into too many options. I'll let Mike Shildt and those guys figure it out. I don't want to give too much away.