Dave Roberts addressed the Los Angeles Dodgers' offensive struggles and pitching following a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on August 16, 2026. "Unfortunately, just, you know, we didn't do enough offensively," Roberts said.
Roberts said the team's offensive troubles are cumulative, pointing to a lack of consistency throughout the batting order. "I just don't see the consistent, uh, plan of attack one through nine," he stated. He noted that the Brewers have outscored the Dodgers over the past four and a half months of the season, attributing it to the Milwaukee club's youth and hunger rather than a talent gap. "The Brewers have outscored us, you know, it's a team that's young and hungry, and it's certainly not talent," he added.
Roberts also said the Dodgers have gone through four to six weeks of below-average offensive production, according to his own account. He emphasized that ending the slump requires urgency on every pitch. "That urgency of every single pitch is important. I don't think that we have that intent," Roberts explained. He said getting out of the stretch depends on execution rather than confidence alone, noting the importance of winning individual pitches and drawing walks. Roberts also acknowledged that the team has failed to convert defensive plays, which has cost starting pitchers innings, saying the club has "given extra outs which causes pitches" while adding there is still offensive intent.
On the pitching side, Roberts explained the decision to reduce reliever Justin Wrobleski's workload, saying the move was designed to protect his arm from fatigue and was aided by the team's eight-man bullpen. "We just felt collectively that, you know, Justin was the right person to back off the fatigue of the arm," Roberts said of the decision. He also praised Tarik Skubal's first three starts, saying the team has not yet seen his best. "We certainly haven't seen his best yet," Roberts noted.
Roberts acknowledged the recent stretch has come against tough, hungry opponents, including the Red Sox, Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Brewers, but said the Dodgers must hold to their own standard regardless of opponent. "I think it falls to our standard. Honestly, I think every team's hungry," he said.