It wasn’t just the score that stung. The Dodgers’ 10–0 loss to the Padres at Petco Park left fans with a bitter aftertaste, not just because of the scoreboard, but because of how rookie pitcher Matt Sauer was used during the rout. As the game spiraled out of control, Sauer was left on the mound, absorbing hit after hit, while the bullpen remained untouched. It didn’t sit well with many in Dodger Nation.
Social media lit up with concern, not only over Sauer’s confidence, but also his health. Was this just a case of tough love from Dave Roberts, or something deeper? Fans wanted answers, and within 24 hours, the Dodgers skipper provided them with a rare blend of honesty and strategy.
“To the fans that felt I was too hard on Matt for leaving him in the game, I apologize,” Roberts told reporters. “But we’re trying to win as many games as we possibly can, and Matt completely understands… I wasn’t worried about Sauer’s health; he feels good today. You have to manage one game, and then you’ve got to manage ensuing games.”
Sauer, a 25-year-old righty just getting his feet wet in the majors, was tasked with mopping up innings after the Dodgers’ starter exited early. But as the Padres tacked on run after run, fans watched with growing frustration as the rookie remained on the mound. To many, it looked like a case of managerial negligence, a young pitcher being hung out to dry.
But Roberts saw it differently, and he wanted to make that clear.
“He’s a big boy,” Roberts added. “He served a purpose last night to help us win potential games going forward. And he’s healthy, so there you go.”
It’s not often a manager offers this kind of transparency, and it reveals the high-wire act the Dodgers are performing. With stars like Walker Buehler, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Bobby Miller out or limited, Roberts is being forced to make moves that favor long-term survival over short-term optics.
The blowout may have raised questions, but Roberts’ message is clear: it’s not about saving face, it’s about saving the season. And Matt Sauer, bruised box score and all, played his part in that plan.
The Dodgers’ blowout that sparked backlash
It began as a manageable three-run hole and ended in a lopsided mess that left the Dodgers searching for answers. By the end of the seventh inning at Petco Park, the scoreboard read 10–0 in favor of the Padres, and the Dodgers had surrendered more than just runs; they’d exposed a growing vulnerability in their pitching depth. Rookie Matt Sauer, thrown into a difficult mid-game role, became the face of a meltdown that didn’t let up.
After Justin Wrobleski was tagged for three early runs and failed to get out of the third inning, the Dodgers turned to Sauer in hopes he could stabilize things. For a brief moment, it looked promising. He pitched a clean fourth and worked out of light trouble in the fifth. But in the sixth, the wheels came off. San Diego put together a sharp rally, Fernando Tatís Jr. led off with a double, Manny Machado roped an RBI single, and the Padres didn’t stop there. A sacrifice fly, a pair of walks, and a two-run double by Luis Arraez broke the inning wide open.
The seventh brought more damage. Jackson Merrill launched a no-doubt homer to right field, and by then, Sauer had thrown 69 pitches, most of them under duress. He finished with 3.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits. It was the worst outing of his young MLB career and the most innings he had thrown at the major league level to date. While the Dodgers’ bullpen remained quiet, the Padres continued to pile on, stretching a competitive game into a blowout.
The loss broke L.A.’s three-game win streak and cast an even brighter spotlight on a rotation wearing thin at the edges.
The post “I Apologize” – Dodgers Manager Sets Record Straight on Matt Sauer After Blowout Loss vs Padres appeared first on EssentiallySports.