The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen was a strength for the team throughout most of the regular season and into the playoffs. But that’s not to suggest there haven’t been bumps in the road, specifically with planned bullpen games in October.
The latest of which came against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the World Series. The Dodgers went into the night with an opportunity to sweep their historic rival but facing a scenario of needing to keep potential future games in mind as well.
Manager Dave Roberts said before the game began that the team would need length from the likes of Ben Casparius, Landon Knack and Brent Honeywell. Particularly if the Yankees took a lead and Game 5 appeared likely.
Casparius received the start — the first of his career in the regular season or postseason — and allowed one run over two innings.
Daniel Hudson, who has seemingly slipped from a high-leverage role amid a prolonged stretch of inconsistency, was next to appear. Hudson’s struggles continued as the Yankees loaded the bases on a hit by pitch, single and walk.
Anthony Rizzo popped out, but Anthony Volpe followed with a grand slam that gave the Yankees a 5-2 lead.
“He’s one out away from getting out of it and leaves a slider arm side to Volpe. That was the difference in that inning,” Roberts said after the Dodgers’ 11-4 loss.
“I think that was his inning. I think he was at 20 pitches, something like that. Had Volpe, so I’m not going to go get somebody in the third inning to get Volpe where he just popped a guy up. Uncharacteristic with the hit by pitch, the walk. So, yeah, it was his inning.”
Landon Knack entered in the fourth and provided the Dodgers with four innings while holding the Yankees to just one run. It bough their offense enough time to chip away at their deficit, which they did in the fifth to cut it to one run.
That put Roberts at a crossroads, and he forged ahead with Knack, who he credited for pitching well.
The Yankees ultimately broke the game open by scoring five runs against Brent Honeywell in the eighth inning.
Dodgers bullpen prepared for Game 5
While the loss extended the World Series, the Dodgers have Jack Flaherty lined up to start Game 5 and a full bullpen behind him.
“As far as outcomes, to have six guys in your ‘pen that are feeling good, rested, I feel good about that. And being up 3-1,” Roberts said.
He added feeling “great” about the outlook and potential workload for Dodgers relievers moving forward if the World Series returns to Dodger Stadium.
“So where we’re at tomorrow, knowing there’s an off day, we’re in a great spot with leverage receivers,” he said.
It was a third such instance in the 2024 postseason that Roberts prioritized the bigger picture. The Dodgers won the ensuing game in the first two cases.
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