Dave Roberts 2024 Dodgers odds: Will Los Angeles fire manager after another playoff disappointment?

On the surface, the idea that Dave Roberts' job as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers is in jeopardy is laughable considering Los Angeles won 100 games yet again this season and reached the playoffs for an 11th straight year. However, the Dodgers were embarrassed by a division rival in a shocking NLDS loss for the second straight postseason, and one wonders whether Los Angeles will want to make a change. SportsLine offers odds on Roberts' future in L.A.

Los Angeles lost to San Diego in four games in the 2022 NLDS and was swept out by Arizona on Wednesday night in Game 3 of the 2023 NLDS. That's a six-game playoff skid. The Dodgers never led in the series vs. Arizona and scored exactly two runs in each game – losing each by multiple tallies. The Dodgers were 18 games better than the Diamondbacks in the regular season and had dominated them the past few years.

L.A. became only the second team in history to win 100 games during the regular season and never lead during an ensuing postseason series, joining the 1963 New York Yankees, who were swept in the World Series by the Dodgers.

This is the third straight year the Dodgers have been eliminated in the postseason by a team they finished more than 15 games better than during the regular season (Atlanta in 2021 NLCS). Roberts led the Dodgers to the 2020 World Series title, but that's the only championship Los Angeles has captured during its current run of regular-season dominance.

"For me, I've got to do a better job of figuring out a way to get our guys prepared for the postseason. I'll own that. I think we've got great players. I've got to figure out a way to get these guys prepared for whatever format, whatever series, Roberts said after Wednesday's loss. "Yeah, the regular season, I think we do a great job. But the last couple of postseasons, it just hasn't gone well for us, and so I've got to figure it out."

Roberts has been criticized for how he handles the pitching staff previously, and he was peppered with questions as to why he let starter Lance Lynn allow a record four solo homers in the third inning of Wednesday's 4-2 loss and didn't pull him sooner. Lynn was the most homer-prone pitcher in the majors during the regular season. Roberts didn't start warming up a reliever until after the third homer. Lynn did not finish the third.

"You've got two outs, nobody on base and a low pitch-count, and you figure that this run of right-handed hitters, you've got to be able to navigate it somewhat," Roberts said of his decision to stick with Lynn. "Then two homers later, you're down 4-0."

The Dodgers have the money to hire any manager they want -- Craig Counsell will likely be available and pursued by the Mets -- and it would be arguably the most coveted job in the sport. The team could be looking at a mini-reboot this offseason of sorts with the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, J.D. Martinez, David Peralta, Jason Heyward set for free agency. Starting pitchers Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May are expected to miss the 2024 campaign due to Tommy John surgery.

Yes, the Dodgers are favored to sign Shohei Ohtani in free agency if he leaves the Angels, but Ohtani can't pitch next year, either, following surgery. He will only hit.

Will Dave Roberts be the Dodgers' manager for Game 1 of the 2024 season?

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