Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stood by his decision to leave pitcher Blake Snell in the game during a critical seventh inning of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, a choice that ultimately contributed to a 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers and pushed the Dodgers to the brink of elimination.

The Dodgers held a 2-1 lead when Snell took the mound in the seventh, having already thrown 101 pitches. Despite the pitch count and the upcoming middle of the Brewers' lineup, Roberts opted to let Snell face the batters. This decision led to Snell walking Andrew Vaughn, followed by a two-run home run from Jake Bauers that gave Milwaukee the lead. Garrett Mitchell then hit a solo home run immediately after, extending the Brewers' advantage.

Roberts stated postgame that he believed Snell was still pitching effectively and that his stuff was strong. "I just saw that through the sixth inning, and then once we got to the seventh inning, I think [Snell] retired 13 or 14 in a row and his stuff was really good," Roberts said. "I don’t think they were seeing him well. I was trying to get him three more hitters… He had his way with those two lefties and took care of Vaughn."

Roberts acknowledged the impact of the leadoff walk to Vaughn and Bauers' subsequent home run. "Obviously the leadoff walk [to Vaughn] hurt. [Snell] Hasn’t given up a homer all year, but it’s just, it’s baseball," Roberts explained. "For me, I felt good with where Blake’s stuff was at. You’ve got to give Bauers credit. He put together another good at-bat, which he did at their place and spurred that rally, and then right there saw eight, nine pitches and ended up hitting a homer."

Snell had not allowed a home run during the regular season, pitching 42 2/3 innings. The back-to-back home runs in Game 3 marked a career first for Snell against left-handed batters. "The Bauers at-bat, it’s the middle of the at-bat, so he’s going to finish that at-bat," Roberts said. "Then he gives up a homer, you’re down a run. For me, I just don’t think it made sense, given where he was throwing the baseball, pitch count, all that stuff, to allow him to get through Mitchell, where I thought he was throwing well against him."

With the Game 3 loss, the Dodgers now trail the NLCS series 3-0, facing a historic comeback to advance.