He was right there, standing on the mound with frustration boiling over. He surrendered four runs without recording an out in the ninth inning against the Mariners; the 26-year-old non-roster invitee is primed for the inevitable. Dave Roberts and the Dodgers skipper entered the mound, and instead of just taking the ball, he grinned—a kind of move that left Sauer confused to pieces. But then came the unexpected twist.

Instead of a routine pitching change, Dave Roberts beamed with a smile. Matt Sauer, the 26-year-old non-roster invitee, stood there still and puzzled as Roberts grabbed him around the waist and dropped a jaw-dropping moment—Sauer had made the Dodgers’ Tokyo series roster.

“I’m a little upset. I’m competing. Just had a pretty bad inning. And then Doc walks out there, and he gets to the mound and smiles,” Sauer admitted. “And then Doc walks out there, and he gets to the mound and smiles. So I’m a little confused at first.”

Sauer has been a lifelong Dodgers fan, and he joined the team’s minor league in December. He was hopeful that this would revive his career. Now, he is all set to head to Japan for the opening day, a place he is already deeply connected with. Sauer stated, “It would be awesome to get my mom over there.” His mother, Tammy, was born on an Air Force base in Okinawa and hasn’t had the chance to visit Japan since she was a baby.

Now, with a golden opportunity on a grand stage, he is ready to prove he belongs. But this is not limited to the reliever, it extends to the whole franchise.

The pressure is on: Dave Roberts leads the Dodgers’ $200M roster into a defining season

Dave Roberts has been through it all—praise, criticism, the endless debates. According to some, he leans too much on analytics, while for some, his leadership is the glue that holds the Dodgers together. None of it really matters in 2025. This season won’t be another chapter; it’s the defining moment of his career.

The stakes couldn’t be any higher with a $200 million roster backing him. With that kind of investment, there is no room for mishaps. Every move, every lineup shuffle, every bullpen call made by Roberts will be put under a microscope. And the expectation? A legit championship. If he delivers anything less, the questions about his future in LA will increase.

Something that sets Roberts apart isn’t just the strategies or calculative moves. It’s how well he’s connected with the players. He isn’t just managing the roster; he’s leading a group of individuals, each facing their own battles. That was a perfect display when he caught Matt Sauer off guard with the Tokyo Series news.

Every season will be a test for Roberts like no other. One thing he has displayed time and again is that he is aware of how to truly rally his team—even in the most unexpected ways.