NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 23, 2021

Dave Roberts

Truist Park

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 6 Press Conference

Q. Just with Max Scherzer he told us about his arm fatigue but feels that he'll be ready to go tomorrow. What were the conversations like with you that ultimately went with the decision to, if there is a Game 7 to push him back?

DAVE ROBERTS: Just in talking to him, the training staff, strength and conditioning staff, just seeing where he was at versus where Walker was at, we just felt it was best to give him an extra day. He had catch play yesterday, and so at that point in time we were still kind of hopeful, but again, just hearing from the player we just felt that this gives us the best chance to win today as well as tomorrow.

Q. How would you say that -- if you have seen, how would you say that he's progressing and kind of moving in the right direction, because he was optimistic when he spoke with us.

DAVE ROBERTS: I think today was a big hurdle as far as after he went out there. It was more of that muscle fatigue as he, in his words were, it just seemed like I had three day ones, and it just couldn't get over that kind of muscle fatigue where typically it kind of, you flush it out after running and day two, day three and you're back, and he just never got to that point.

So today the way he threw the baseball gave us a lot of confidence that he can make the start tomorrow.

Q. What went into the Matt Beaty over Gavin Lux in the lineup decision?

DAVE ROBERTS: For me it was just thinking about, getting outfield defense was part of it, understanding Ian Anderson, the start, giving Matt Beaty a couple cracks potentially, have Albert looming. That was kind of -- and also if I need to have that left-handed bullet in the 8 or the 9, I can have Gavin there.

Q. How did it go with Justin Bruihl out there? Is he going to be able to be available or do you feel like you may have to replace him?

DAVE ROBERTS: We're going to stick with Justin. He gave us all assurance that he's ready to go for an inning tonight.

Q. You mentioned a couple times this postseason about how if you use a starter in relief there is a cost. Has what you've seen with Max the cost of that, has that exceeded your expectation?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah. I think that in talking to Max before the Division Series Game 5 and wanting the baseball and having done it before and, you have to trust the player, certainly a player with his track record, and this is a decision that we all kind of came together and we felt good about.

So could I foresee where we're at right now? No. But we still have to make the decision that gets us to this point. So I think that every hurdle, every marker, that we get to we have to make a decision and there's no, on the other side of how it's going to play out, no one knows that. We can all speculate.

But to your question, to say that what he was able to give us in Game 2, I think it was, Game 1, did I expect that after that 13 pitch save? No. And to say after an extra day, not to be able to make the start today, no, I didn't, and I don't think Max did either. But that's where we're at. And I know Max wants to take the baseball, but his arm is not allowing.

Q. Where is Walker at physically at this point? He's on short rest. He hasn't done that before. He mentioned he had an illness at some point before his last outing. How confident do you feel in him physically today?

DAVE ROBERTS: I feel, we feel really good, we feel really good. Most importantly Walker feels really good. So it's not, I don't want to put a number on what it's going to be like. It's about execution, performance. But as far as physical, mental, he feels fantastic.

Q. We'll stick with Walker first. You said you don't want to put a number on him out there for today. What are you hoping to get from him? What's your plan if he does feel some fatigue early on?

DAVE ROBERTS: I mean, if he feels fatigue early on and it's not coming out the right way or he's not executing, then we're going to go to the guys that we have in the bullpen and piece it together. But I think as far as hope, two and a half times through the order would be fantastic, leave the game with a five-run lead.

But for me it's just start the game and go as hard as you can for as long as you can and get outs and we'll have people behind you.

Q. With Max, when was it on your radar that he might not be able to make the start today?

DAVE ROBERTS: It truly wasn't until yesterday because he still was, he still played catch, and we still felt good about it. And learning Max, as sometimes there's that muscle fatigue, dead arm, and then it's like, but the next day I come in and I feel good and I'm ready to go. So we were all, and Max as well, was like, it will turn and it will feel good when I wake up and I'll know. And then it just didn't get to that point.

Q. Your level of confidence that he'll be able to pitch tomorrow if you guys get there?

DAVE ROBERTS: Very, very confident. What he will be able to give us and how long, I don't know the answer. I don't think anybody does. But as far as him taking the baseball tomorrow, if we put ourselves in that position, I think, I feel very confident.

Q. What was your conversation with Walker like and I guess considering kind of like he was scheduled to go on Sunday, what are the challenges of him moving up a day on such short notice?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think the challenge is something that he's only done twice in his career, second time, so that's, I mean, an obvious kind of challenge and something that is an unknown.

But as far as his body, mind, I feel very confident. And I think with players, they seem to know more before I know, and I say that in the sense of when they're in the dugout, they're playing catch, and yesterday Walker's out there with them. They're talking about things too, about how do you feel, how do I feel, kind of that. And even Max said it. It's, Walker was in a much better position to make this start today than I was. So he's aware of that.

Q. No matter what happens the rest of the way, has what Kenley done, has, what he's done this season, this October, changed the organization's sort of perception of him as you head into this winter?

DAVE ROBERTS: We're going to the winter, huh? I've always had confidence in Kenley. I'm very happy with the way he's performed and he deserves all the credit. We wouldn't be here without him and I'm going to lean on him tonight.

And as far as the winter, that's not a part of the conversations that I'm a part of, really.

Q. What has been the mentality of the team? I know Trea Turner said that it's kind of loose. It's kind of like we just know we got to win the game today. What have you kind of told the team has you head into this Game 6?

DAVE ROBERTS: Nothing. No team meeting. Going around, touching players, talking to guys. And I will echo what Trea said. Some guys are playing cards. Some guys are watching college football, some guys are watching video. Some guys are in the training room. But the point is that at 8:07 and as we get towards that time, guys are narrowing their focus on winning tonight and we're aligned in that.

Q. Is David Price capable of talking down multiple innings if needed, if you do need some length if Walker or Max can't go deep the next couple of days?

DAVE ROBERTS: David is certainly capable. David will do anything that we ask. So he's capable for whatever we need, whether it's to get out of an inning, multiples, he'll do whatever we need.

Q. Just in general how frustrating is it to have an ace like Max Scherzer in the dugout in a must-win game at the last minute?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's certainly not ideal. I know if there's a guy that we want in there it's Max. Also, I love Walker in there tonight. But they're both aces. They're both aces. And, believe me, if we could align it for him to pitch tonight, he would. So our job now is to get the baseball to him in Game 7.