On Thursday evening, in the seventh inning of a 6-3 victory over the Mets, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts orchestrated an elaborate ruse. He engages in feints like this often. He often refers to them as “just a little gamesmanship” — gambits to test the thinking of the opposing manager. Rarely do they work better than this.
With two outs, two runners aboard and the Dodgers leading by one, Roberts sent Corey Seager into the on-deck circle for pitcher Pedro Baez. In the bullpen, Sergio Romo loosened up. The path appeared clear: If Enrique Hernandez reached base, Seager would replace Baez at the plate and Romo would replace him on the mound.