It was shown that a “bullpen game” is not easy at all

It was shown that a “bullpen game” is not easy at all
It was shown that a “bullpen game” is not easy at all

LOS ANGELES – With only three traditional starters – Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler and Yoshinobu Yamamoto – in their rotation for a best-of-seven series, what the Dodgers are trying to do in the NLCS against the Mets is pretty difficult.

That was proven in Game 2 on Monday at Dodger Stadium, where Ryan Brasier allowed one run in the first inning and Landon Knack gave up five more. in a 7-3 loss. The series is now tied at one win apiece, with Game 3 scheduled for Wednesday at Citi Field.

Of course, Monday was another “bullpen game” for Los Angeles, something that worked perfectly for them last Wednesday in Game 4 of their Division Series against the Padres. On that occasion, Brasier, Anthony Banda, Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Daniel Hudson, Blake Treinen and Knack combined to shutout the Padres.

But in the second game of this round against the Mets, Vesia (injury) and Hudson (tiredness after pitching in Game 1 against New York) were missing.

“I think today was different, because we didn’t have Vesia,” Roberts said about the left-hander, who had a 1.76 ERA in the regular season and was a key relief piece for this postseason. “And Hudson was on leave.”

Many people were surprised when Roberts – after Brasier allowed a solo home run by Puerto Rican Francisco Lindor leading off the game – went with the rookie Knack in the second inning. With Banda, Kopech, Phillips and Treinen rested, they can potentially pitch two innings each with a rest day on Tuesday and right-hander Walker Buehler scheduled to pitch on Wednesday.

“You’re talking about the second episode there,” Roberts said. “You have a guy on the mound who has to eat up innings. “If you go with someone else, we won’t be able to finish the game.”

Roberts also explained that the difference between his strategy last Wednesday vs. San Diego and Monday’s game against the Mets was that in Game 4 at Petco Park, the Dodgers were against the wall, on the brink of elimination. In this case, the planning is more long-term, to be able to use their most trusted arms throughout a long series of seven games.

“I think there’s an edge that you have to protect and be aware of the cost of the next three games,” Roberts said, “and don’t forget that this wasn’t a do-or-die game. “It’s not a three-game series.”

Nowadays, it is not very common to be able to win a best-of-seven series with just three traditional starters, as it was in the days when the true “horses” started Games 1, 4 and 7. In fact, the last pitcher To do that was Corey Kluber for Cleveland in the 2016 Series. And before him, it was Curt Schilling in 2001 with Arizona.

That lack of inning-capable starters on the Dodgers necessitates a couple of “bullpen games” in a 7-4 series. Not easy.

“It looks great when it’s working well and guys are shooting zeroes, but you’re facing some really good teams,” Roberts said. “When you lose a couple of pitchers (Vesia and Hudson on Monday), you have to know how to do it.”

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