Los Angeles Dodgers: Examining a stacked potential playoff bullpen
By Jason Reed
The biggest narrative surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers has been the lack of a quality bullpen, something that might change come October.
Heading into the MLB Trade Deadline, the talk of the Los Angeles Dodgers adding bullpen help was extremely prevalent. Being the most notable flaw on the MLB’s best team, the bullpen was obviously the biggest point of concern.
This led to some lofty expectations around the Dodgers at the deadline. Several names were linked to the Dodgers, including southpaw reliever Felipe Vazquez. However, the Pirates asking price for Vazquez was far more than the Dodgers were willing to pay.
The team was asking for two of the Dodgers’ top four prospects, a package that the team obviously did not want to send for a reliever. That did not stop the fans from being disappointed, as plenty of criticism was sent the Dodgers’ way for not pulling the trigger.
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Now, ironically, the same prospects that the Dodgers opted not to trade are making an impact on the big league club. Dustin May has made two great starts for the Dodgers and has won over the fanbase, despite most of the same fans wanting the team to trade May just over a week ago.
May contributing to the big league club is not only justifying Andrew Friedman’s patience but is also part of a bigger narrative: that the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen, at least come October, has the potential to be elite.
May could serve a role in that bullpen and factor into that success, although we will circle back to him.
Let’s look at the for sure members of the bullpen. Kenley Jansen has been pitching better, Joe Kelly has been elite since the start of June, Casey Sadler has been phenomenal since joining the Dodgers and Pedro Baez has been solid and has been elite at Dodger Stadium.
Trade Deadline acquisition Adam Kolarek is going to be the southpaw specialist in the bullpen and is one of the best in that role in the entire league.
Then you have a trio of arms that can stretch the game. With a four-man rotation in the playoffs, if Rich Hill is healthy, the Dodgers can afford to have Julio Urias, Ross Stripling and Kenta Maeda all in the bullpen.
Urias has been great in his role, Maeda has performed better out of the bullpen in the past and Stripling is someone that can stretch the game for the Dodgers and get outs.
Right there the Dodgers have eight solid relievers that would make up a good bullpen. That leaves one open spot to go to Yimi Garcia, JT Chargois, or one of the youngsters in May or Tony Gonsolin.
The team might be leaning towards one of them the way they have been pitching and September will serve as an extended tryout for both young arms to see if they can make the cut.
That is a very, very solid bullpen that really does not have any weak points. That may not guarantee perfect outings on every single night, but it does guarantee that the Dodgers have enough talent and firepower to be comfortable in any situation.
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But hey, all it takes is one bad night for the narrative on the bullpen to flip to it being the team’s biggest weakness. Once October rolls around, every fan will realize how good the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen really can be.