Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Dave Roberts’ Questionable Decisions

The Dodgers blew another game last night and while the players are the ones who blew the game, Dave Roberts continues to make some very questionable decisions.

The Dodgers lost in walk-off fashion yesterday as JT Chargois gave up the game losing home run.  Dave Roberts removed Scott Alexander in favor of Chargois which makes little sense.  Roberts himself has said that Scott Alexander is the Dodgers best reliever with Jansen out so the decision to remove Alexander was definitely a head-scratcher.  With Kenley Jansen out for the next month, Dave Roberts is going to have to learn to effectively manage his bullpen otherwise the Dodgers may miss the playoffs altogether.

In addition to his bullpen mismanagement, Dave Roberts also continues to fill out the lineup in questionable ways.  Roberts once again hit Kiké Hernandez cleanup last night even though Kiké has struggled with left-handed pitching this season and has no business being a cleanup hitter.  Roberts also chose to sit the hottest hitter on the team in Cody Bellinger.  With the Dodgers playoff hopes likely coming down to the final week, every decision made by Dave Roberts is going to be even more magnified.

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Other news…

• Dave Roberts announced yesterday that Hyun-Jin Ryu will come off the disabled list sometime this coming week and make a start for the Dodgers.  Ryu will not make any more rehab starts after his last rehab start in Oklahoma City where he pitched five effective innings.  Ryu was easily the Dodgers best starting pitcher when he went down with his groin strain back in May.
• Alex Wood is also going to come off the disabled list and make a start for the Dodgers on Tuesday.  Wood has been on the DL with lower leg issues and despite his injury, he had been pitching well through the Dodgers even pitching through his injury.  The additions of Wood and Ryu to the rotation means that a starting pitcher or two is going to need to be moved to the bullpen.

• Rich Hill is going to start today and he will not be one of the starters getting displaced from the rotation.  In his last seven starts, Hil has posted a 2.41 ERA to go with forty strikeouts in thirty-seven innings.  At the moment, Rich Hill is the best starting pitcher in the rotation and he will look to lead the Dodgers to a series split today.