Once the National League Championship Series was set, analysis on how it might unfold and who would emerge victorious largely centered around how the Los Angeles Dodgers would fare against a vaunted Milwaukee Brewers bullpen.
That has largely gone by the wayside through the first five games of the series, as the Dodgers have found success against Brewers relief pitchers and struggled when facing their starters. In turn, the Los Angeles bullpen has been the group that’s shined.
“I would say the bullpen,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answered when asked what’s the biggest reason his club has a 3-2 series lead.
“I had to pick one thing, I think clearly the bullpen has clearly been the key for us. You look at Clayton in his first start and then Ryu didn’t go long in his start, so I think for our ‘pen to eat up those innings and put up a bunch of zeros allowed us to stay in games, keep leads.”
Heading into the postseason, Roberts acknowledged the Dodgers would break from last year’s approach of leaning heavily on the relief corps and instead rely on their starters. The rotation has answered the bell at times, but as Roberts noted, there have also been shortcomings.
“Every game will dictate how you’re going to use your ‘pen,” he said of attempting to plan ahead for a starter to provide length. “But I think the confidence that these guys have, and just feeling that they’re not overused is a good thing.
“So I think that you look at last year’s World Series where it seemed like using the guys a lot and logging a lot of leverage innings and stressful innings, maybe caught up with our guys. But I think right now to this point we’re in a good spot. But again the value of a starter going six, seven innings is huge.”
Roberts previously remarked he believed Dodgers relievers had taken it personally that the Brewers bullpen was drawing all the notoriety.
In a dramatic turnaround from the regular season, Pedro Baez and Ryan Madson have each been lights-out in October. Heading into Game 6 at Miller Park on Friday, Baez is 1-0, collected 10 strikeouts over 6.2 shutout innings and held opponents to a .091/.167/.136 batting line.
Meanwhile, Madson has shaken off the worst regular season of his career to go 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA through six postseason relief appearances thus far. Both right-handers have been entrusted with and succeeded in getting the Dodgers out of difficult spots.
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