Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is going to be away from the team on Saturday in order to attend Cole’s, his son, graduation ceremony from Loyola Marymount University. Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann is taking over as acting manager.
Roberts was with the Dodgers on Friday night at Petco Park and is expected to return for the series finale against the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers experienced a similar situation last season when Roberts attended Emme’s, his daughter, high school graduation, but it was then-bench coach Bob Geren who filled in. Geren was also acting manager in 2019 when Roberts stepped away from the team for his son’s high school graduation.
Lehmann takes over as interim manager with the Dodgers one night removed from having their season-best winning streak snapped at six games. It came in their first time playing the Padres since they eliminated the Dodgers in the 2022 National League Division Series.
The Dodgers went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position in the 4-2 loss, which was reminiscent of their postseason struggles against the Padres. However, last year’s NLDS didn’t immediately come calling back to Roberts during the series opener.
“You know, I didn’t,” answered Roberts when asked if he had flashbacks as the Dodgers were leaving runners on base against Yu Darvish.
“I thought one of those games we swung the bats really well but didn’t have anything to show for it. And then the other one is just a fog, that last one. I think it’s just a baseball game that during this winning streak, we’ve been very good at manufacturing, and tonight we weren’t.”
Who is Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann?
Lehmann is in his first season as Dodgers bench coach after spending the previous three years in a game planning and communications coach role. He also held that position in 2018, but spent 2019 as a special assistant.
Overall, Lehmann is in his sixth season with the Dodgers organization.
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