Dodgers’ Biggest October Questions Take Center Stage On Blue Dynasty Unplugged

The Dodgers know when their postseason will begin.

Now they must determine which players, roles and matchups give them the best opportunity to finish it with another championship.

The latest episode of Blue Dynasty Unplugged went far beyond a basic recap of the final homestand. George Contoyannis hosted a detailed October discussion with Priscilla Perez, Bobby Hainline and Great Lakes Loons biostatistician Austin Brubaker.

The group examined Josue De Paula’s potential postseason role, Shohei Ohtani’s position in the batting order, possible NLDS opponents, Freddie Freeman’s health, Edwin Díaz’s bullpen audition and the Dodgers’ extraordinary collection of Minor League award winners.

Austin also used the episode to announce an important addition to Blue Dynasty.

He will soon host Blue Dynasty Breakdown With Austin Brubaker, a new live show built around prospects, roster construction, strategy and statistical analysis. The show will complement Blue Dynasty Unplugged while giving Austin a dedicated platform to take Dodgers fans deeper into the numbers and decisions shaping the organization.

Josue De Paula Made An Impression Beyond The Box Score

The longest and most personal conversation of the episode centered on De Paula.

George identified the rookie’s patience as one of the most encouraging parts of his first Major League opportunity. De Paula did not appear determined to prove himself by swinging at everything. He controlled the strike zone, accepted his walks and regularly produced mature at-bats against more experienced pitchers.

Priscilla shared a different side of De Paula after being present for one of his interviews at Dodger Stadium.

De Paula described calling both of his parents after learning he was going to the majors. When he entered the Dodgers’ clubhouse and saw his name above a locker, he sent a picture to his father, who shares the same name.

For a moment, there was silence between them. Then came the realization that their family name was hanging inside the Dodgers’ clubhouse.

That emotional story strengthened Priscilla’s connection to a player whose enthusiasm was already visible on the field.

Bobby pointed to De Paula’s reaction after receiving a high-five from Ohtani in the dugout. Despite playing alongside some of baseball’s biggest stars, De Paula still reacted like a young fan experiencing a moment he had imagined for years.

His bat helped the Dodgers, but his personality and visible appreciation for the opportunity also gave the club a noticeable spark.

Austin Brubaker Explains De Paula’s Potential October Role

Austin offered an especially valuable perspective because he watched De Paula play for Great Lakes only one year ago.

The speed of De Paula’s rise—from High-A to Double-A and then directly to the majors—made his immediate offensive success even more impressive.

The difficult question is not whether De Paula played well enough to remain in the conversation. It is how the Dodgers could use him in October.

Ohtani’s return closed the everyday designated-hitter opportunity De Paula received during his call-up. The Dodgers also have an established outfield group and are unlikely to remove a veteran starter from the lineup to create regular postseason at-bats for a 21-year-old rookie.

Austin believes De Paula’s clearest path would be as a specialized left-handed bat off the bench.

That could mean hitting for a right-handed batter against a difficult reliever or providing a patient at-bat with runners on base late in a game. The Dodgers would not need De Paula to be a complete everyday player in that role. They would need the plate discipline and offensive ability he displayed during his first Major League stint.

De Paula has not been promised a postseason position. His inclusion would still require the Dodgers to navigate the applicable roster rules and decide that his bat offers more value than another bench option.

His performance, however, gave them a legitimate decision to make.

The Ohtani Leadoff Debate Is About More Than One Batter

Ohtani’s return created another postseason question: Should he remain at the top of the batting order?

Priscilla was open to a change after seeing the offense play with a different type of energy during Ohtani’s absence. Bobby preferred keeping Ohtani at leadoff, particularly if his swing continues improving after his return from the injured list.

Austin approached the question through lineup construction and late-game matchups.

Batting Ohtani first against a right-handed starter allows the Dodgers to alternate left- and right-handed hitters more effectively. Moving Ohtani directly behind Mookie Betts could create a section of the lineup featuring too many left-handed hitters close together.

That becomes important once the opposing starter exits.

A concentrated run of Ohtani, Freeman, Max Muncy and Kyle Tucker could make it easier for another team to deploy a left-handed reliever. Keeping Ohtani first gives the Dodgers more opportunities to break up those matchups and force the opposing dugout into more complicated bullpen decisions.

Against left-handed starters, moving Betts to leadoff provides Los Angeles with another way to create balance.

The debate demonstrated the type of analysis Austin will bring to Blue Dynasty Breakdown. The decision is not merely Ohtani versus Betts. It is about how that choice affects every hitter and pitching change that follows.

Which NLDS Opponent Should The Dodgers Want?

With the National League’s No. 2 seed secured, the Dodgers will wait for the Wild Card round to determine their NLDS opponent.

Bobby was ready to welcome another postseason series against the Padres.

San Diego’s recent success against Los Angeles and the history between the two clubs would make the series emotional, but Bobby viewed it as an opportunity for the Dodgers to answer those losses on the biggest stage.

Austin examined several potential opponents individually.

Atlanta’s struggles against left-handed pitching could create an advantage for Los Angeles if Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell are available. That matchup could also influence how many left-handed relievers the Dodgers carry.

Chicago possesses an offense capable of turning a short series into a slugfest, but its pitching may not be as imposing as some of the other possibilities.

Philadelphia’s lineup is dangerous at the top, while its frontline starters could become particularly valuable in a best-of-five series.

San Diego has a formidable bullpen and no fear of playing the Dodgers, even if its starting rotation and overall lineup may not be as deep as Los Angeles’.

There was no consensus easy opponent—and that was the point.

Each matchup would create different roster considerations for the Dodgers. Their final bullpen spot or bench position could depend partly on which team advances from the Wild Card round.

Freddie Freeman May Need Rest More Than At-Bats

The group also addressed Freeman’s recent struggles while managing patellar tendinitis in his right knee.

Bobby believes the Dodgers should use the remaining regular-season games to rest Freeman and give his knee as much recovery time as possible before the NLDS.

Austin supported that concern with the underlying numbers.

Freeman’s recent quality of contact has declined, suggesting this is more than a stretch of bad luck. Austin noted that his expected offensive production has fallen to approximately league-average territory since August and below that level in September.

That does not mean Freeman is suddenly an average player. It indicates that he has not been driving the baseball with his usual authority.

With the Dodgers locked into their playoff position, the value of several additional regular-season at-bats must be weighed against the benefit of allowing his knee to recover.

The Dodgers will need Freeman in October. Whether they need him throughout the final regular-season series is a different question.

Edwin Díaz Remains Part Of The Bullpen Evaluation

Díaz’s role generated one of the episode’s livelier disagreements.

His recent scoreless appearances have been encouraging, but the Dodgers have very little time to decide whether that improvement is enough to trust him in October.

Bobby does not expect Díaz to return to the closer role and would prefer to see Tanner Scott continue receiving the biggest late-game opportunities.

Priscilla agreed that Scott is the most obvious choice based on recent performance. However, she also noted Dave Roberts’ history of placing confidence in experienced players and challenging them with meaningful opportunities.

Because of that, she would not be surprised if Díaz received a chance to close a game before the regular season ends.

Austin avoided reaching a definitive conclusion without completing a deeper comparison of Díaz’s mechanics before and after his injury. The results have improved, but determining whether the underlying command and pitch quality have changed requires more than simply looking at scoreless innings.

That uncertainty makes Díaz one of the most important players to watch during the final weekend.

Dodgers Prospects Collect Awards Across The Organization

Austin also took the group through an exceptional year for the Dodgers’ Minor League system.

Easton Shelton was named California League MVP after a breakout season for the Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers.

Charles Davalan earned Midwest League MVP honors after combining plate discipline, power and consistent offensive production for Great Lakes.

De Paula was selected as the Texas League MVP following his dominant season with Double-A Tulsa.

At Triple-A, James Tibbs III built his own MVP case while producing one of the most complete offensive seasons in the Pacific Coast League.

The success extended beyond individual awards.

The Oklahoma City Comets defeated Las Vegas to win the Pacific Coast League championship and advance to the Triple-A National Championship Game against the Rochester Red Wings.

Austin emphasized that winning at the Minor League level matters. The Dodgers are not only developing individual prospects. They are attempting to prepare players to perform in meaningful games before those players reach Los Angeles.

Final Giants Series Becomes An October Evaluation

The Dodgers entered their final series against San Francisco with their postseason seed already determined.

That changes what should be considered a successful weekend.

Sweeping a rival would always be satisfying, but the more important objectives are keeping players healthy, helping important hitters find their timing and evaluating the remaining candidates for the postseason bullpen.

Austin identified Díaz and Kris Bubic among the pitchers worth monitoring. He will be watching their pitch quality, command and ability to execute—not simply whether a run appears in the box score.

The Dodgers also need to determine which position players require at-bats and which would benefit more from rest.

Los Angeles cannot improve its postseason seed during the final series, but it can improve its readiness.

The latest episode captured exactly where the Dodgers stand.

The division has been won. The first-round bye has been secured. The remaining questions are about health, roster construction, matchups and which players can be trusted when the season is on the line.

Watch the full episode of Blue Dynasty Unplugged on the Blue Dynasty YouTube channel or listen wherever you get your podcasts.