Blake Treinen is just one of three Dodgers relievers who continue to fail to get the job done. (AP Foto/Jessie Alcheh)
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Last season, the Dodgers rode their bullpen to a World Series championship. Over 16 games, the bullpen threw approximately 82 innings, including a “bullpen game” in Game 4 of the NLDS, but not including other so-called “openers.” It was Dave Roberts’ masterful use of the guys who came in after the starters that held the team together, weathered tough outings from Jack Flaherty and no starts from either Clayton Kershaw or Shohei Ohtani, that got the job done. This year has been a very different story.
Over the off-season, in an effort to redouble their advantage and solidify what was arguably the strongest part of their team, the club re-signed closer Blake Treinen for two years and $22 million; added Tanner Scott, the hard-throwing lefty reliever, signing him to a four-year, $72 million contract; and then, just because they could, they signed Kirby Yates to a one-year, $13 million deal. The results have been disastrous.
Going into last night, the last five Dodgers’ losses all fell at the feet of Treinen – the first time that has happened in MLB history. To take some heat off Treinen, Scott decided to blow a save and give the Dodgers another loss last night. The last time a Dodgers starting pitcher lost a game was September 4th.
For the season, here is what those three big relievers look like:
- Treinen: 1-7; 5.55 ERA; 1.85 WHIP; 1.8 K/BB ratio; 3 blown saves.
- Scott: 1-4; 4.91 ERA; 1.27 WHIP; 3.4 K/BB ratio; 10 blown saves.
- Yates: 4-3; 5.23 ERA; 1.33 WHIP; 3.1 K/BB ratio; 2 blown saves.
In September, it is even more bleak:
- Treinen: 7 IP; 8 hits; 9 ER; 6 strikeouts; 9 walks.
- Scott: 6.1 IP; 7 hits; 6 ER; 7 strikeouts; 5 walks.
- Yates: 7 IP; 7 hits; 6 ER; 7 strikeouts; 4 walks.
The Dodgers currently hold a 1.5 game lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West and have already punched their ticket to the post-season. But there is simply no way for this team to have designs on making a run, let alone repeating as champions, with these three as their bullpen core.
It should be noted that in last night’s game against the Diamondbacks, Clayton Kershaw warmed up in the bullpen. On the broadcast, Joe Davis even remarked that if the Dodg