Rob Thomson, manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, has been schooled by Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts through the first two games of the National League Divisional Series. The Dodgers came from behind in Game 1 to score five unanswered runs to defeat Philly 5-3.

The Dodgers managed to hang on in a nail-biter of an ending in Game 2, 4-3. Los Angeles has executed better than Philadelphia has in the first two games. Having a more experienced manager has also made a huge difference in why the Dodgers find themselves one win away from advancing to their fourth National League Championship Series in the last six seasons.

Dave Roberts has pushed all the right buttons to put his team in position to eliminate the Phillies

Roberts’ decisions during Game 2 that paid off included bringing in catcher Will Smith off the bench to pinch-hit for Ben Rortvedt in the top of the sixth inning. Roberts left Smith in the contest to catch.

The move worked to the Dodgers’ benefit as Smith hit a two-run single in the seventh off Orion Kerkering. The hit gave them a 3-0 lead and forced Thomson to make a pitching change, replacing Kerkering with Matt Strahm.

Roberts also let starter Blake Snell pitch through the bottom of the sixth inning. The left-hander had issues with four walks in his six innings on the mound. However, Phillies batters could only generate one hit against him.

Snell got into trouble in the sixth, issuing a walk to Trea Turner, who then stole second base. Kyle Schwarber also drew a walk to bring Bryce Harper to the plate. Roberts decided to leave Snell in to see if he could work himself out of a jam. It was the right call. Harper struck out swinging, and Alec Bohm grounded into a force out to end the inning.

Roberts used starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow in relief in Game 1 after Shohei Ohtani’s night on the mound was complete. The Dodgers manager followed the same strategy in Game 2 after Snell managed to get the two big sixth-inning outs.

The Dodgers skipper used Emmet Sheehan out of the bullpen. The 25-year-old started 12 contests but also made three relief starts during the regular season. In two innings of relief against the Phillies on Monday, the right-hander allowed one earned run and two hits with one strikeout.

Rob Thomson has looked overmatched as Phillies on brink of losing NLDS

Thomson has not been as creative as Roberts. The Phillies skipper has not used pitchers with starting experience out of the bullpen, such as Ranger Suárez and Walker Buehler, in either of the two losses.

Rather, Thomson has gone the predictable route and used relievers David Robertson, Kerkering, Strahm, Jhoan Duran and Tanner Banks. Robertson, Kerkering and Strahm have not performed at their best in the first two games of the series. After taking the loss in Game 1, Robertson was warming up in the bullpen during Game 2 but did not appear.

Thomson has said before both contests that he would consider using Suárez out of the bullpen, but he hasn’t. Why not? The starter certainly couldn’t do much worse than Robertson, Kerkering and Strahm.

The decision to not use Buehler during Game 1 or 2 is also perplexing. The right-hander pitched very well down the stretch for the Phillies to earn a spot on the NLDS roster. So, why not take advantage of his previous postseason experience?

Thomson signaled from the dugout that Bryson Stott should bunt in the ninth inning of Game 2. This decision led to the potential tying run, Nick Castellanos, getting easily tagged out at third base. It was a bizarre managerial decision, to say the least, considering the next batter, pinch-hitter Harrison Bader, singled.

Roberts’ decisions have worked out while Thomson’s haven’t. It is one of the reasons why the Dodgers are on the verge of sweeping the Phillies in the series, ending their season in a disappointing manner for the Philadelphia organization and fans.