Los Angeles Dodgers: Why you shouldn’t worry about the bullpen
By Jason Reed
There has not been much to complain about regarding the Los Angeles Dodgers thus far this season, except for the team’s underperforming bullpen.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are already off to a much better start in 2019 than the team had in 2018. The 2019 Dodgers have started the year with a 4-2 record and have scored a combined 50 runs in six games, headlined by Cody Bellinger and his insane start to the season.
Last year’s Dodgers stumbled out of the gate and did not regain their footing until mid-May when Justin Turner returned from his broken wrist. The 2018 Dodgers were a team that was obviously suffering from World Series hangover, the 2019 Dodgers appear to be a team that is driven by anger.
There is one silver lining though as the Los Angeles Dodgers could very well be 6-0 on the season. In the second game of the year, the Dodgers got hit with every unlucky bounce in the book, which included Joe Kelly blowing a three-run and one-run lead in the same outing.
In game five, Kelly suffered the same fate as he blew a two-run lead to the San Fransisco Giants.
Kelly has been the figurehead for a bullpen that has struggled out of the gate to start the season and nearly even blew a four-run lead to the Giants on Tuesday night. Kenley Jansen got a tough double play ball to end it and if it was anyone but Pablo Sandoval running it probably would have tied the game.
It is safe to say that Dodger fans are starting to worry about the bullpen, although we are here to calm your nerves and tell you why you should hold onto those worries.