Dodgers News: Analyzing Three Takeaways from Game Three
By Evan Lovett
Alex Wood may be the Dodgers’ Andrew Miller
The third pitcher in an otherwise nondescript evening, for most baseball fans, does not warrant much notice. For the Dodgers and manager Dave Roberts, however, Alex Wood may have laid the groundwork for a very significant role in a bullpen laden with talent – but also undefined roles.
Wood performed beautifully, pitching two scoreless innings – the only blemish being one walk. He struck out a batter and motored through the two innings with only 22 pitches. The significance of the outing is that it may foreshadow a very large, emphatic place on this pitching staff for the talented left-hander.
Wood would be a starting pitcher on most, if not all other teams in baseball. In fact, he was a starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves when the Dodgers acquired him in 2015. As a 23-year old, he won 11 games and pitched to a 2.78 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in only his second year in the major leagues. The Dodgers stretched him out a few times last year, but resigned him to the bullpen in the playoffs, a role that seemingly belies the talent in Wood’s left arm.
Alas, this is a similar role to Cleveland Indians dynamo and left-handed bullpen marvel Andrew Miller. Miller led the Indians through the playoffs, winning American League Championship Series MVP after being utilized for one-, two- and three-inning stints throughout the season. The pitcher is so valuable, there is not a defined role for him – he defines the role as the game evolves and can be used for one out or nine outs.
That is the role that Wood may end up filling, as Roberts noted after the game. A high-leverage weapon; Wood may end up liking the sound of that. Andrew Miller sure did.