David Ross Wanted to Avoid Dodgers Walk-Off, Plan Not Followed By Fulmer

Chicago Cubs manager David Ross had a plan to avoid a David Peralta walk-off for the Los Angeles Dodgers. But the plan was not followed by closer Michael Fulmer.

Kade Kistner | Apr 16, 2023

David Ross Wanted to Avoid Dodgers Walk-Off, Plan Not Followed By Fulmer /

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The Chicago Cubs lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Saturday night as David Peralta hit a walk-off single off of a Michael Fulmer cutter.

It wasn't supposed to be that way though. The cubs had every opportunity to win, and with Peralta coming to the plate, there was a plan to keep the lead and victory in place.

Cubs manager David Ross insisted the plan was to pitch around Peralta, something Fulmer clearly didn't do with two men on base.

“The decision is to pitch around him, walk him,” Cubs manager David Ross said to The Athletic. “Barnes (is next); they’ve got some pinch hitters on the bench. You know, who knows what Will Smith is and where he’s at? We can guess on that all day long. You got an open base, trying to be careful, and he jumped a cutter from the get-go and found a hole.”

With an open base, they could have easily put Peralta on and faced a struggling Barnes who looked lost at the plate. A much more intriguing and encouraging option than facing a capable Peralta.

Instead, Fulmer threw a cutter that he wished had been more on the inside and Peralta roped it to right field to complete the walk-off win.

How does a manager's decision not get relayed to the closer? Or how does the pitcher decide to not follow the prescribed plan?

Either way, the breakdown led to a Dodgers victory, one that was in hand for Chicago. That win would have led to the series victory, a woulda-been feather in the cap of this Cubs squad.

Now they will try to defeat Los Angeles on Sunday for the series win, but with a less favorable matchup on the mound between Cubs starter Drew Smyly and Dodgers ace Julio Urias.

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Published Apr 16, 2023

KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.