The Los Angeles Dodgers have one of the top records in the National League but some of their early-season struggles and recent losses are directly traced to a bullpen group that typically has been an area of strength for the team.
In recent seasons, the Dodgers bullpen has been regarded as a unit that possesses a number of quality and versatile options. At the end of the bullpen was an established closer in Kenley Jansen, and the role was then filled by Craig Kimbrel, although he was left off the 2022 postseason roster due to inconsistency.
This season the Dodgers have bypassed having one set closer and instead are operating with a more fluid approach. The team likes Evan Phillips in more of a fireman role for when the matchups line up best, but that puts the onus on others to step up in additional late-game scenarios.
Although the Dodgers bullpen has collectively struggled and even with three walk-off losses last week, manager Dave Roberts doesn’t believe the lack of a set closer is to blame, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“I think there is a little bit of too much emphasis on the dedicated closer. There were a lot of people calling for Kimbrel to be gone last year. And having a dedicated closer, saying it wasn’t helpful to our ’pen. So you have to kind of peel back individual performance, and I think that individually, guys are not pitching to their capabilities. So as a whole, it looks like one painted picture. But I think the lack of being able to put hitters away when you have count leverage is something that stands out to me.”
The Dodgers bullpen possess a collective 4.76 ERA, which ranks 27th overall. In contrast, in 2022 their bullpen held an NL-best 2.87 ERA.
Roberts isn’t the one throwing the baseball, and using his most consistent arm in Phillips for spots that don’t come in the ninth inning is purely an advantage-based move. Of his 23.2 innings pitched this year, Phillips has only logged 8.1 of them in the ninth inning.
Brusdar Graterol and Caleb Ferguson have also taken their turns in closing games, to mixed results. Graterol has the velocity to profile as a closer but doesn’t induce enough swing and miss.
How can Dodgers bullpen improve?
Without a long, consistent run of positive outcomes for the Dodgers bullpen, finding proper roles has been next to impossible for Roberts and pitching coach Mark Prior.
On any given night, one to two relief pitchers are being sent into spots to bounce back from a flub the game prior, or into a situation that isn’t all that comfortable.
Daniel Hudson is the next name who could help out the group, but Roberts cautioned that he’s still multiple weeks away from being in position to get activated off the 60-day injured list.
The trade deadline isn’t a surefire spot to find a remedy, but Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is likely to search around the league for an arm or two that he’d like to bring into the mix.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
