Dodgers Relievers Paving the Way With Team Chemistry On Full Display in Postseason
Perhaps the most pivotal part of the Los Angeles Dodgers return to the World Series has been their bullpen. On a team loaded with superstars across the starting rotation and lineup, the pitchers coming in for just one to two innings per game have proven just as important in this Dodgers’ postseason run.
The Dodgers came into the postseason at a disadvantage because of the injuries to their rotation. Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, River Ryan, Emmett Sheehan, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Gavin Stone all out for October. The Dodgers have turned to their bullpen on multiple occasions to rescue them.
When their three starters available have struggled this postseason, their bullpen has been able to come in and close out games. In the National League Division Series, the bullpen recorded a shutout performance, putting the Dodgers on track to advance to the next round. They helped the Dodgers tie a postseason record of 33 consecutive scoreless innings, and keep them alive to get back to the World Series.
The bullpen internally relied on teamwork throughout this postseason stretch. This was on display during the Dodgers win in Game 2 of the World Series. In the top of the ninth inning, with the Dodgers in reach of a win, Blake Treinen found himself in a jam. He left the bases loaded with the New York Yankees only trailing by two. Treinen managed to get a second out before Alex Vesia came in to get the save.
“In a perfect world, you’d like to finish your inning … but I had full faith when [Vesia] came in,” Treinen said, via Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. “Ves has been our most lock-down guy all year, consistently. He’s had a phenomenal year and has pitched in huge spots, and what he did tonight was no different.
“We’ve all been battle-tested,” Treinen said. “If one of us falls short in the task at hand, somebody else comes in and picks him up. I’d like to think I’ve been able to do that for some of my teammates in the past, just like any one of the guys, and that’s why we’re a close unit.”
The Dodgers relievers have come in to fill in for Vesia as well. Vesia was injured during the NLDS, and others had to step up in his absence during the NLCS. Now that he’s back, Vesia has come through for his bullpen in return.
“It’s unbelievable,” Vesia said of his first World Series save. “This is everything to me, playing on the biggest stage with the two best teams you could possibly play for.”
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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