Dave Roberts said he liked his team's fight after the Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Chicago Cubs on August 5, 2026, extending their losing streak to six games.
Roberts pointed to Mookie Betts as a bright spot, noting that Betts went 0-for-3 earlier in the game before hitting two home runs. "The way Muki swung the bat today was very encouraging," Roberts said. He added that teammates and coaches have played a role in rebuilding Betts' confidence during a difficult stretch, saying "his teammates and coaches, you know, have really picked him up."
Roberts also addressed Freddie Freeman, who was hit by a pitch and left the game for a precautionary scan. Roberts noted that x-rays came back negative, calling it "another positive," and said he expects Freeman to be able to play by Friday, stating "my expectation is yes."
On a separate matchup, Roberts observed that Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong were going "toe-to-toe," describing both as front-runners for MVP. He also credited a hard-fought at-bat by Tyrone Taylor in the fourth inning, who got a hit off Lowry, as a pivotal moment that kept the Cubs starter from getting through the order cleanly. "That Taylor bat, that was a big bat right there," Roberts said.
Looking back, Roberts recalled that on the same date in 2025, Betts had a three-hit game that helped him get back on track before the end of that regular season. He acknowledged the Dodgers' bullpen has been through a lot in the 2026 season, which has made it difficult for starters to work through opposing lineups. Roberts said the team cannot dwell on the past and needs to focus on ending the current six-game losing streak, stating "we've lost six straight. We got to flush it."
Roberts said the Dodgers are looking forward to a rookie and Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the mound in the upcoming series against the Diamondbacks.