Success continues to follow rookie manager Roberts

WASHINGTON — Dave Roberts has lived a lifetime beating the odds. He was an undersized Major Leaguer. He recovered from cancer. And almost a year ago he emerged as manager of the Dodgers, even though entering the hiring process, he wasn’t the perceived first choice of president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.

On Friday, the rookie manager tackles Dusty Baker and the Washington Nationals in the National League Division Series (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT on FS1). The Dodgers bring in a roster built through the same collaborative process that will decide the starting lineups of each game. Contrary to the popular narrative, Roberts doesn’t show up to his office and find a lineup card on his desk filled out by Friedman or his lieutenants.

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 7 5:30 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 Gm 2 Oct. 8 4 p.m. LAD @ WSH FS1 Gm 3 Oct. 10 TBD WAS @ LAD FS1 / MLBN *Gm 4 Oct. 11 TBD WAS @ LAD FS1 *Gm 5 Oct. 13 TBD LAD @ WSH FS1 *- If necessary | All times listed ETShop for postseason gear: Dodgers | Nationals • Complete Postseason coverage

“Not even close,” Roberts said of that accusation. “It hasn’t been awkward like that at all. These guys have given me as much autonomy as I want. More times than not, I find myself calling them to come down and talk, and they are more of staying out of my way. “There’s always learning one another, but we both have high respect for one another. I’ve been completely open to their ideas. I have my thoughts on how things should be handled. Andrew and Farhan [Zaidi, general manager,] feel the same way about being …

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