Bold truth: the Dodgers’ knack for delivering in clutch moments is unmatched, and their roster seems built for big moments when the game hangs in the balance. Across the 2025 postseason, nearly every Dodger found a spotlight moment as they battled all the way to a second straight World Series title.
A recent ESPN poll of MLB managers asked who they’d least want to face with the game on the line. Surprisingly, five of six managers named Dodgers players, underscoring the respect—and fear—the Dodgers inspire in opponents. Only one manager, Colorado’s Warren Schaeffer, picked Shohei Ohtani as the player they’d fear most in that moment.
Schaeffer’s choice makes sense: Ohtani hit .341 against Colorado in 2025, tallying 15 hits, five homers, and 11 RBIs against the Dodgers’ divisional foe this year.
Freddie Freeman emerged as the most frequently named player in the poll, appearing three times. Brewers manager Pat Murphy highlighted Freeman’s ability to come through in tight spots, saying, “Freeman has dominated us for years with the game on the line. He’s done it many times, broken our hearts.” Former Dodgers utilityman Skip Schumaker also voted for Freeman, though he ranked Ohtani as the better hitter overall.
Schumaker offered a nuanced view: “I’d take Freddie Freeman. He hits righties and lefties, stays inside the baseball, uses the whole field, and doesn’t chase bad pitches. He understands the strike zone, puts the ball in play, and isn’t trying to do too much. Ohtani is the better hitter, but I don’t want to face Freddie.” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo echoed Freeman’s value, citing his ability to read pitchers, adapt, and deliver when a double or single is needed.
Former San Diego Padres reliever and current manager Craig Stammen added a Dodgers opponent he respected: Mookie Betts. Stammen recalled facing Betts eight times, noting a .500 average and a home run in the regular season, even though Betts went 0-for-1 in the postseason against him.
As the 2026 season approaches, the Dodgers aim to sustain their late-game excellence and pursue a historic third straight World Series title—the first time the franchise would accomplish that feat.
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