Opinion: Dave Roberts outmanaged John Schneider in game three of the 2025 World Series

Dave Roberts (YouTube)

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in game three of the 2025 World Series on Monday night. With the win, the Dodgers have taken a two games to one series lead in the best out of seven series. The big story from game three was the fact the game went into 18 innings before Los Angeles became victorious. The two Dodgers heroes in game three were Shohei Ohtani, who had four extra base hits (two doubles and two home runs), and Canadian Freddie Freeman, who led off the top of the 18th inning with a monster home run.

The other Dodgers MVP on Monday was manager Dave Roberts. The Dodgers manager outmanaged Blue Jays manager John Schneider by one major reason. He kept his starting lineup in as long as possible, and it paid off as Freeman’s blast won the Dodgers the game.

Schneider’s first significant error was taking out Addison Barger in the eighth inning. His bat is significantly more consistent than the bat of Myles Straw. Schneider’s second significant error was not putting in Chris Bassitt to pitch longer. He should have got more than one inning. Thirdly, one needs to ask why Brendan Little was on the Blue Jays’s World Series roster at all after his poor performance in game five of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners.

Roberts has the more postseason managerial experience. He has won two World Series in the past, and deserves credit for bringing in Miguel Rojas. He came through with a terrific pinch hit bunt. Game four is Tuesday night.