Dodgers bullpen has been hot, with a series no-hitter vs. Cubs
LOS ANGELES — A year ago, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was attempting to get through the late innings of tight playoff games with long appearances by closer Kenley Jansen, a hodgepodge of veteran relievers and one desperate bailout from ace Clayton Kershaw.
One October later, Los Angeles’ bullpen is downright dominant as the team steamrolls toward the World Series.
After excelling in the unbeaten three-game National League Division Series sweep of Arizona, those relievers have retired 24 of 25 batters withoutallowing a hit or a run in the National League Championship Series against the ChicagoCubs.
The bullpen hasn’t allowed a hit in its past 8⅔ innings of work overall, giving the Dodgers extraordinary faith in their relievers heading into Wrigley Field Tuesday night for Game 3.
“They’re just executing pitches, and they’re ready when called upon, and they’re competing,” Roberts said after his bullpen threw four hitless innings in Los Angeles’ 4-1 victory Sunday night in Game 2.
“It’s a close-knit group down there. ... Those guys know exactly what they want to do, and they’re going out there and executing.”
The Dodgers domination has come from everywhere in the bullpen — not just Jansen, who remains among the top closers in baseball.
Jansen has three saves, a victory and 10 strikeouts in six innings, appearing in all five games and allowing just one unearned run.
Jansen is still getting multiple-inning saves for Roberts. This year, it’s out of desire rather than utter necessity. “We’ve got a really good bullpen in the postseason,” Jansen said.
“I’m not just trying to be a hero, but whatever the team needs me to do, and whatever Doc [Roberts] wants me to do, I’m going to be ready to put myself in that position to win ballgames.”
The Dodgers won 104 games this season with a deep lineup and a talentpacked rotation, but their bullpen has been outstanding all year long, easily leading the NL with a 3.38 ERA. In October, the relievers have been even better — particularly against the Cubs, who are waiting for their first hit against the group.
After starter Rich Hill was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning of Game 2, first-year Dodgers righthander Brandon Morrow faced six Cubs and retired them all, needing only 18 pitches.
The Cubs got their only baserunner of the series against the bullpen when Jansen hit Anthony Rizzo on the hand in the ninth inning of Game 2. The closer calmly got two more outs to set the stage for Justin Turner’s walk-off homer.
“I’ve never had a bad feeling with our bullpen before, but I think at the same time we’re realizing that it’s one of our strengths of our team,” Kershaw said Saturday after the bullpen backed him with four perfect innings in the Dodgers’ Game 1 victory over Chicago. “You still want to go as deep as you can in the game, but I guess handing the ball off to those guys makes it a little easier.”
A year ago, the Dodgers didn’t have the same array of bullpen talent. They relied heavily on Jansen, Kershaw and Roberts’ creativity, with some nights working out better than others.
Roberts was praised for his innovative use of his pitching staff last season, but he has said he doesn’t want to use Kershaw as a reliever this October, preferring to keep his recently injured ace on a regular schedule.
So far, he hasn’t even been tempted.
The Dodgers added two key relievers in midseason trades, picking up eighth-inning setup man Tony Watson from the Pirates and lefthander Tony Cingrani. Both settled in quickly with the Dodgers, and they’ve combined to yield only two runs in seven postseason appearances.