Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2026

Justin Wrobleski set a career high in strikeouts of eleven while pitching seven brilliant innings. His excellent performance gave Dave Roberts his 1000^th win as a Dodger manager.

On a hot Tuesday night at Sutter Health Field, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Athletics, 9–3. Though this victory was great for the team, the night belonged to Roberts.

His .622 winning percentage is the highest in major league history among managers who have managed more than 300 games. Roberts is the fourth Dodger manager to reach 1,000 wins. He will have many more in a Dodger uniform.

What to say about Roberts? 

I have watched seven Dodger managers, and Roberts is my favorite. And I absolutely adored Tommy Lasorda. When the Dodgers named Roberts as the Dodger manager on November 23, 2016, he had managed only one game, a loss with the San Diego Padres.

At the time, many people were skeptical about the Dodgers’ choice. Since Lasorda retired in July, 1996, the Dodgers had five managers before Roberts. During this period, the Dodgers never went to the World Series. There was clubhouse strife. Ownership was unstable.

Don Mattingly, who piloted the Dodgers since 2011, had led them to three consecutive divisional titles and two NLCS appearances. However, he didn’t fit the Dodgers. He didn’t embrace analytics and wasn’t comfortable with young players. He wanted everyone to be professional, showing very little personality. After the Dodgers lost in the 2015 NLDS to the New York Mets, Mattingly and the Dodgers mutually decided to part ways.

Roberts became the first minority manager of the Dodgers. From 2002 to July 2004, he played for the Dodgers. Was he a star?

No. Roberts was a good center fielder with a weak throwing arm. He was an above-average hitter because of his knowledge of the strike zone but had no power. He was a good base stealer but was plagued with hamstring injuries as a Dodger. He “aimed to be a good teammate.” When I met him on August 31, 2002, he was friendly but had quiet confidence.

In 2016, his first year of managing the Dodgers, Roberts was named the National League Manager of the Year, the only time that he has won the prestigious award. The Dodgers had a record number of injuries, and Roberts made 606 pitching changes, a record. Nevertheless, he piloted the Dodgers to the NLCS, where they lost to the Chicago Cubs. He also managed Corey Seager to a unanimous National League Rookie of the Year.

In 2017, Roberts managed the Dodgers to 104 wins during the regular season. For the first time since 1988, the Dodgers went to the World Series to ultimately lose to the Houston Astros, which stole signs illegally in the regular and postseason. He helped Cody Bellinger to a unanimous National League Rookie of the Year.

After a rough start to the 2018 season, the Dodgers returned to the World Series to lose to the Boston Red Sox. Although the Dodgers won 106 games in 2019, they didn’t get out of the NLDS against the eventual World Champion Washington Nationals.

Although people like to discredit the COVID-abbreviated 2020 baseball season, it was hard for everyone who was involved. Baseball people and players were separated from their loved ones. Players get an adrenaline rush from performing in front of large crowds, and they were performing in front of cardboard cutouts.  However, the Dodgers had the best record of 43–17 in the major leagues. They overcame a 3-1 deficit in the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves to go to the World Series. They beat the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Championship in 32 years.

From 2021 to 2023, the Dodgers continually won 100+ games in the regular season to suffer disappointment in the playoffs. During this period, Roberts improved his handling of the pitchers and communication skills with players and personnel.

Roberts won World Championships in 2024 and 2025. If he hadn’t gone with his gut to play Miguel Rojas in Games 6 and 7 in the 2025 World Series and insert Andy Pages during the ninth inning of Game 7, the Dodgers probably wouldn’t have won the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

In 2026, the Dodgers have the best record in the major leagues.

Every player trusts Roberts. He has built an environment where the players feel respected. His superior communication skills make players feel seen and heard. He cares about his coaches, players, and their families.

In baseball, it is a rarity to find an ideal person for a certain situation. However, Roberts is the perfect manager for the Dodgers, as he has a Hall of Fame career.