Dave Roberts taking (undue) heat after Blake Snell NLCS decision almost cost Dodgers

Blake Snell was an absolute monster through eight innings against the Brewers in NLCS Game 1 on Monday night. Dodgers fans already knew they could expect at least six innings of solid work from him after he went seven against the Reds and six against the Phillies in the Wild Card and NLDS, but he somehow exceeded expectations again against Milwaukee.

Dave Roberts pulled him after he took the Brewers down in order in the eighth, sitting at a comfortable 103 pitches. He didn't allow a run, only gave up one hit, didn't walk anyone, and struck out 10 hitters.

Roberts admitted after the game that the decision to not send Snell out in the ninth, where he'd have attempted the first postseason complete game since Justin Verlander's in 2017, was "50-50," but he ultimately entrusted newly-minted closer Roki Sasaki with the save and a two-run cushion.

The Brewers ended up halving the Dodgers' lead in the bottom of the ninth thanks to Sasaki, but they still went down swinging when Brice Turang chased a fastball from Blake Treinen way above the zone.

Despite walking away with the win, Dodgers fans were quick to accuse Roberts of trying to throw the game by taking Snell out, but it's a needless complaint. The Dodgers won, and there was no reason to doubt Sasaki after his first 5 1/3 hitless relief innings.

Dodgers fans complaining about Dave Roberts' decision to pull Blake Snell in NLCS Game 1 are riling themselves up about nothing

Snell did get up to 112 pitches in a start this season, when he threw seven scoreless against the Phillies on Sept. 17, but you can't blame Roberts for not wanting to take any chances with a slim lead in the ninth. Sasaki was the ideal option.

We'll allow that Treinen coming in after Sasaki was questionable. Sasaki put two runners in scoring position on a walk and ground-rule double, gave up a run on a sac fly, and walked another batter. The situation recalled too many regular season games when the Dodgers' offense couldn't provide enough run support behind a masterclass start and the bullpen blew it in late innings. Treinen walked another batter to load the bases before finally getting Turang to strike out.

But even though Sasaki proved to be shaky, Roberts was just going off of the information he already had — 5 1/3 outstanding postseason innings from the rookie up to that point. Taking out Snell, who the Dodgers might need to pitch again in this series, to entrust a single inning to Sasaki wasn't Roberts "throwing the game." Sure, Dodgers fans are plenty traumatized after some egregious bullpen blowups this season, but we have to give the skipper a pass on this one.