The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2024 postseason with a starting rotation that has seen better days. As it stands right now, the bullpen is the strength of this pitching staff and the Dodgers are going to need to lean on it heavily if they want to go anywhere this October.
The bullpen has also had its fair share of injuries this season, with some significant absences before the season began that led to a slow start out the gate. As the season progressed, the health and performance of the bullpen steadily improved.
All in all, the bullpen finished the 2024 regular season with the fourth best ERA in baseball at 3.53 without ever having a fully healthy group for any extended period of time. However, the Dodgers entered the playoffs with some uncertainty surrounding the closer spot after a down year from normally reliable Evan Phillips.
Midseason acquisition Michael Kopech assumed the role down the stretch, but the Dodgers won’t be utilizing a traditional closer approach in the postseason.
“I would say it’s more matchup-based. I think what we’ve done a good job is we’ve got probably on our roster, there are five or six guys that have got a save maybe in this season,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“So I feel very comfortable. They’ve all pitched in leverage, whether it be the fifth, the sixth, the seventh or the ninth. So I think that whatever pitcher I feel is best in that particular part of the game, part of the lineup, that’s who I’m going to use.”
It is a bullpen that is not short on talent. Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia have been two of the best and most reliable relievers in the game all season long for the Dodgers. Even though Phillips hasn’t been himself this season, it’s hard to bet against a pitcher with a 1.74 ERA the past two seasons.
It also added some significant firepower with a shrewd move at the trade deadline for Kopech who has become one of their best relievers in a very short time.
Kopech came out of the bullpen in the eighth inning of Game 1, but he struggled to find any effectiveness. Blake Treinen took over and recorded the save after pitching the ninth as well.
Dodgers could embrace bullpen games if need be
The Dodgers are aware of the situation they find themselves in thanks to the lack of options in their bullpen, which is why the decided to carry 13 pitchers in the NLDS instead of another bat on the bench.
If they find themselves in a position where they need to turn to the bullpen to cover an entire game this series, the Dodgers are confident in their guys to get the job done.
