How Dodgers manager Dave Roberts led injury-hit team to 4th World Series in 8 seasons

Even Dave Roberts wouldn't have imagined when the Dodgers management was putting together the superteam in the offseason that they would be so shorthanded come the postseason. But even with just three regular starters and multiple injuries to the starting lineup, LA overcame the San Diego Padres in the NLDS and the New York Mets in the NLCS. They aim to take down the Yankees to win it all this season.

Manager Dave Roberts showed his masterclass in the NLDS Game 4. On the brink of defeat, the 52-year-old strung together an eight-reliever bullpen game to force Game 5 and eventually win it.

The Dodgers didn't choose to have a bullpen game against one of the hottest lineups in the San Diego Padres. They were forced into it due to injuries to several key starters, including offseason signing Tyler Glasnow and veteran arm Clayton Kershaw.

Even the healthy ones—Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler—lacked ultimate conviction. Roberts trusted them and they delivered. Yamamoto pitched five scoreless innings in Game 5 for the win. Flaherty held his own in NLCS Game 1, and Buehler had a strong outing in Game 3.

Even on defense, LA suffered injuries to key infielders Freddie Freeman (ankle), Gavin Lux (hip) and Miguel Rojas (hernia). This prompted Roberts to chop and change, with players like Kike Hernandez and Tommy Edman stepping up and Max Muncy playing out of position.

All of them delivered as the team collectively hit 46 runs in the NLCS, a postseason record for the franchise in a seven-game series.

Where does Dave Roberts stand among the greatest MLB managers?

Dave Roberts' fourth pennant win with the Los Angeles Dodgers in nine seasons places him second only to Bruce Bochy among active managers. He has an 851-506 regular season record during that time, with a .627 PCT, the most for any manager since 1947. This leads to an average of 102 wins every season.

Whether the Dodgers win their first title in a full season since 1988 or not, Roberts has easily put his name in the hat for his second NL Manager of the Year award after 2016.

That is solely because of his thought process, which has led the team even with injury troubles. A date with destiny awaits for the club and manager against the Yankees in the World Series.