Dave Roberts Makes Drastic Lineup Changes Ahead of Game 5

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made some major lineup changes for Game 4 of the World Series, fulfilling manager Dave Roberts’ postgame promise that the batting order “might look different tomorrow.”

As Sports Illustrated noted, Outfielder Alex Call will start in place of Andy Pages, batting ninth for the Dodgers.

Pages has endured a rough postseason stretch, going just 4-50 from the plate, prompting Roberts to make a change with the series tied 2-2.

That wasn’t the only change Roberts made to the lineup. 

Will Smith has been moved up to the No. 2 spot, while Mookie Betts slides down to third in the order after hitting just 3-for-19 in the series. 

Dave Roberts Stayed True to his Word

After Game 4, Roberts hinted that changes were coming, frustrated by his team’s inconsistency at the plate.

“We haven’t found our rhythm,” Roberts said Tuesday. “It sort of draws dead at certain parts of the lineup. I’m going to think long and hard, and it might look different tomorrow.”

The Dodgers have scored only three runs over their last 20 innings, including a 6-2 loss in Game 4 that left their once-potent lineup searching for answers. 

Outside of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Teoscar Hernández, much of the Dodgers’ offense has gone quiet. 

Roberts hopes these adjustments will reignite the explosive offense that defined the Dodgers throughout the regular season. 

A Potential Turning Point for Los Angeles

Now facing Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage in a pivotal Game 5 at Dodger Stadium, Roberts is banking on these adjustments to jolt his team’s offense back to form.

Historically, the winner of Game 5 in a tied World Series goes on to capture the title nearly 70% of the time, which shows just how crucial tonight’s matchup will be. 

If the Dodgers’ revamped lineup can rediscover the timely hitting that carried them through the regular season, Los Angeles could seize back momentum and move one step closer to their goal of winning back-to-back World Series titles. 

But if the offensive woes continue, Roberts’ decision might be remembered as a desperate move that came too late. 

The Dodgers must approach tonight’s game with a Game 7 mindset, knowing that winning two straight on the road in Toronto would be an extremely uphill battle.

Blake Snell will take the mound for the Dodgers tonight, and despite his impressive 2.42 ERA this postseason, he will need strong run support to counter the Blue Jays’ high-powered offense.

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