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Los Angeles Dodgers: Everything we know about the team’s identity

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the dugout after scoring off a two RBI single by Alex Verdugo #27 against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on April 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the dugout after scoring off a two RBI single by Alex Verdugo #27 against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on April 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

2. The bullpen will be fine without a few sour apples

The biggest concern for the Los Angeles Dodgers this early in the season has been the bullpen. While the bullpen has not been perfect, and it is absurd to say that it has been, the overreaction regarding the bullpen has been just as absurd.

On the surface, the numbers do look alarming. The Dodgers’ bullpen has a 4.91 ERA thus far, which is not the prettiest number to see. However, if you consider the current status of the bullpen, it really is not as bad as it seems.

Take away the few bad apples that have caused these inflated numbers.  The trio of Joe Kelly, Yimi Garcia and Brock Stewart have allowed 27 of the Dodgers’ 48 earned runs allowed this season. If you take those three arms out of the equation then the bullpen’s ERA is suddenly 2.15.

Stewart is already off the Dodgers’ active roster and Garcia might be following him once Rich Hill is activated, which will move Ross Stripling to the bullpen. Stripling and Julio Urias, who are much better options than Garcia and Stewart, will undoubtedly bolster this pen.

Kelly is the one troublesome one as the Dodgers just signed him to a three-year, $25 million contract prior to this season. He should eventually come around and if he doesn’t, he can just end of being a loss for the Dodgers and be an expensive mop-up guy.

Either way, the bullpen is fine.

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