As the Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up their regular season schedule, manager Dave Roberts hinted the team may take an unconventional approach with their pitching staff during the playoffs because of injuries.
That could lead to Andrew Heaney and perhaps even Julio Urías appearing out of the bullpen at times. L.A.’s relief corps is also without a set closer due to Craig Kimbrel’s recent demotion, but Roberts does not see that as an issue.
“It’s kind of the whole mindset of, just because you’ve always done something one way doesn’t make it right,” Roberts said. “It might not be traditional, but I’m not too concerned.”
With Kimbrel no longer manning the ninth inning, the Dodgers have turned to a closer-by-committee approach and could call on Evan Phillips, Chris Martin, Alex Vesia, Brusdar Graterol or Tommy Kahnle to record the final three outs in the postseason.
“I think not having Craig in the ninth gives us a little bit more freedom to not have a player solely dedicated to the ninth,” Roberts noted.
“So if we feel there’s an opportunity to run him out there to take down an inning or get us out of an inning which lines up for him, I think it makes our bullpen better.”
Before completing a trade for Kimbrel at the end of Spring Training, the Dodgers were prepared to enter the 2022 season without a traditional closer.
“We were very fortunate to get Craig, but you have to plan for not having a dedicated closer, and that’s kind of was the way we would have had to have gone,” Roberts recalled.
Craig Kimbrel confident he can contribute to Dodgers in postseason
Kimbrel’s first season with the Dodgers has been marred by inconsistency, but the right-hander is confident he can right the ship in time for the playoffs.
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