The Los Angeles Dodgers began their first road trip of the season with a 15-inning marathon against the Arizona Diamondbacks that saw them exhaust all available bench players and relievers.
It put the Dodgers and their eight-man bullpen in a difficult position moving forward, and the team had a fresh arm arrive Tuesday in the form of Zach Neal from Triple-A Oklahoma City. The timing worked well in that Josh Fields was placed on the paternity list to be by the side of his expectant wife.
Although he was disappointed by only completing six innings, Clayton Kershaw did alleviate some of the burden on the bullpen. Nonetheless, they head into Wednesday’s series finale with Kenta Maeda available to pitch in relief, according to Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
Kenta Maeda will be in the bullpen today as an insurance policy, Dave Roberts said. Team has not decided a starter for Friday/Saturday.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) April 4, 2018
Maeda nearly made his way into Monday’s game, though it was going to be as an outfielder had the contest gone to the 16th inning. It would’ve coincided with Joc Pederson taking the mound, with Yasiel Puig a candidate to follow him if play extended.
Maeda potentially pitching in relief is related to inclement weather threatening to rain out Friday’s game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park, which the right-hander is tentatively scheduled start. Maeda of course has experience — and success — with being utilized out of the bullpen.
He allowed just one run and seven baserunners, and had 10 strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched during the 2017 postseason. The versatility prompted Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi to refer to Maeda as an underrated component of the team’s roster.
Despite shining in the bullpen role, the Dodgers unequivocally said Maeda went into this year viewed as a starting pitcher.
