Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Frustrated with How Cleveland Handled Rainout

After an awkward scene where no one seemed to know what was going on, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared his frustration with the Cleveland organization and feeling that Wednesday’s weather delay should have been handled differently. If the game never began, the Dodgers could have saved Clayton Kershaw for Thursday. If Cleveland’s grounds crew waited to cover the field until the rain came, the Dodgers might have finished five innings.

He aired out his frustrations to reporters after the game was postponed on Wednesday.

“I do think we could have got through 4 considering the pace of play, the way the game was going – and potentially 5 innings. … I wish we could have kept playing until we saw rain drops. That’s not my department. But I do think that we could have got some more baseball in.”

Playing 7 innings before the normal scheduled game makes it difficult for the Dodgers to decide the pitching. Kershaw can’t come back. Ryan Yarbrough might be used in the first game, so he can’t pitch in Boston.

Last Saturday, the Dodgers played a doubleheader, and Friday, Boston is expecting rain. If the Dodgers and the Red Sox are rained out on Friday, they will have a doubleheader on Saturday.

Trying to schedule the pitching is difficult. After last Friday, the Dodgers lost Tony Gonsolin for the season, and they want to give Kershaw extra rest between starts. Julio Urías and Ryan Pepiot started last Saturday.

Trying to manage the bullpen is a challenge with rainouts and doubleheaders. Roberts doesn’t want to overwork any relievers, and if Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol don’t get enough work, they don’t have the same rhythm and have the same effectiveness.

The Dodgers will make it through this rough schedule, and they will be better for this challenge. Cleveland could have lessened the stress on the Dodgers if they didn’t have to play 7 innings on Thursday.  

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