State of Dodgers Left-Handed Pitching in Bullpen Raising Concern Levels Heading Toward Postseason

The Los Angeles Dodgers will make the playoffs in 2023, but that’s not their final goal. They want nothing more than to make another World Series, and with this roster, they should be able to do it. However, they have one major shortcoming: They don’t have a left-handed stopper out of the bullpen.

While the 3-batter minimum rule has reduced the importance of having a left-handed specialist, the Dodgers don’t have a left-handed reliever who can get hitters out regularly.

Neither Caleb Ferguson nor Alex Vesia have had strong performances in the 2023 season, leaving much concern in LA’s bullpen. The Dodgers don’t have a lefty to challenge the top hitters in the major leagues unless they use Ryan Yarbrough as a short-burst reliever. But, that’s not how they want to use him.

Vesia has had a rough time adjusting to the pitch clock, so the Dodgers sent Vesia to Oklahoma City twice. Since he has returned, he has performed better, but he’s still earning the trust of Dave Roberts. In 41 games this season, he has a 5.45 ERA and 50 strikeouts over 34.2 innings.

Roberts has more confidence in the veteran Ferguson, but in August, he had two meltdowns against the San Diego Padres and the Cleveland Guardians, which came on Tuesday and led to Roberts questioning the reliever’s status once again. This would be unacceptable in the postseason. This season, Ferguson has appeared in 53 games, posting a 2.87 ERA over 47 innings. He has 54 strikeouts while walking 20.

While the Dodgers have Victor Gonzalez, another lefty, he hasn’t been effective since 2020.

There were no effective left-handed relievers available at the trade deadline, leaving the Dodgers to settle on Yarbrough, who they envision more as a piggyback long reliever.

So, heading into this year’s stretch run and postseason, the Dodgers’ biggest weakness, by far, is left-handed relievers. Let’s hope they figure out a way to mitigate that issue come October.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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