Blake Treinen has been hit extremely hard this Cactus League season, ahead of what the Los Angeles Dodgers hope is a bounce-back season from their longtime trusted arm.
Treinen was disappointed with last year’s outcome, but the right-hander still believes he has more left to give. He was never able to feel like his stuff was 100% following a right forearm injury in April of last year. It was incredibly frustrating, but it also gave him a reason to be optimistic about 2026.
His Spring Training performance has not been very encouraging. Still, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the 12th-year veteran’s roster spot is not in jeopardy, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“No. We’re definitely not there yet,” Roberts said. “Right now at the forefront in my head is how do we get him back and I know Mark (Prior) feels the same way. So we’ve just kind of got to figure it out, collect our thoughts and get him back on track.”
Treinen is among the other veteran arms Roberts has said he plans to rely on this season, in hopes of better performances than in 2025. Until the 37-year-old and the coaching staff have worked through his issues, it would be best to take him out of the high-leverage role he has occupied since joining the Dodgers in 2020.
The good news for the Dodgers is that Alex Vesia looks to be in top form, and Tanner Scott seems to be revitalized on the mound after struggling in his first season with L.A.
The development from Scott is very encouraging, not only because of the massive contract he received last offseason, but also because it gives Roberts another reliable back-end arm he can use with confidence.
Dave Roberts not seeing confidence from Blake Treinen
Treinen is coming off a rough outing against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday that saw him enter in the fifth inning with two runners on base. He hit his first batter and then allowed a grand slam on the very next pitch before eventually recording the final two outs.
Roberts said the veteran reliever’s most pressing issue has been a lack of confidence on the mound.
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