Entering the 2022 National League Division Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen was expected to be one of their biggest advantages over their opponents. Although they’ve performed well, it’s been the San Diego Padres bullpen that has made the difference in the series thus far.
In Game 1, the Dodgers scored five runs off Mike Clevinger in just 2.2 innings, but Padres relief pitchers combined for 5.1 innings without allowing a hit. Only two runners reached base against Steven Wilson, the first to appear after Clevinger.
“They have a really good staff over there,” Max Muncy said after the Dodgers hung on for a win. “I think their bullpen came in and executed their plans to perfection. There weren’t a whole lot of pitches over the plate for us to hit. They have a really good staff.”
Gavin Lux also shared the same view as Muncy after going 0-for-2 against the Padres bullpen. “They have really good arms in their bullpen and can kind of match up pretty well with whoever we run out there,” the 24-year-old said. “Baseball is hard. Round ball, round bat.”
Although the Dodgers bullpen has been overall effective, only allowing two runs in the two games, that has so far been the difference between L.A. taking a commanding 2-0 series lead and the reality of the Padres heading back to Petco Park for two games in a tied series.
One potential factor is the Dodgers getting five days off between the end of the regular season and the start of the NLDS while the Padres were able to keep building on their momentum, but manager Dave Roberts doesn’t believe that is an issue. “No, I don’t,” the skipper said.
“I think that we got off to a great start. I thought we were going to kind of run away that one. Didn’t happen once they went to the ‘pen.
“It was good for us to see a few arms out of the ‘pen, that I think will help us later on. But I talked to some guys, and we felt really good. I just don’t think we made the adjustment out of the ‘pen. I don’t think it was the layoff at all in this case.”
In Game 2 of the series, the Padres bullpen combined to pitch four shutout innings while giving up four hits and two walks. “They’re just executing pitches really well,” Muncy said after the loss.
“They’re not leaving a whole lot over the plate for us to hit, and we’re not taking advantage of some situations that we have.”
The Dodgers had their chances to score but they were unable to capitalize, leaving 10 on base and going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, which led to a 5-3 Padres victory.
“They have good arms. We knew that,” Trea Turner said. “They seem pretty locked in right now, making good pitches, pitches when they have to. We got a lot of guys on base, and that’s kind of a positive, but we didn’t get them in.
“Going forward, that’s probably the difference in the game, all those people that we had on base. Just get a hit here or there, and the game can change really quick. So there’s some positives and some things we need to work on.”
Although the Dodgers went 14-5 against the Padres throughout the regular season, that has not translated to the same success in the NLDS, where every pitch and play is magnified.
“It’s the same guys we’ve seen all year,” Freddie Freeman said. “They just made the pitch and we didn’t get the hit.
“Suarez came in a did a really good job, throwing 100, 101 (mph), and got the changeup. Then they bring in a different look with Nick Martinez, whose curveballs and changeups, and then a late heater. And then obviously they’ve got Hader throwing 100.
“They pitched good. We still created opportunities in those innings, so you’ve got to look at it like that. We just didn’t cash in.”
The NLDS is now a best-of-three series, with two games coming at Petco Park, so the Dodgers will need to make the adjustment quickly or their 111-win season could end with an earlier-than-anticipated end.
Dodgers lineup made MLB history in Game 2 loss
Per STATS LLC, the Dodgers became the first team with three home runs, at least 15 baserunners, all nine starters to reach safely, a minimum of eight players in the lineup collecting a hit, and to have a man reach in every inning while only finishing the game with three runs.
No other team in MLB history had previously accomplished each of those in a regular season or playoff game.
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