The Dodgers got a timely boost in the bullpen picture on Tuesday, with Edgardo Henriquez moving a step closer to returning for the NLDS.
Henriquez had been out since Sept. 14 because of lower back discomfort, and while his official activation from the IL came Tuesday, his postseason status still wasn’t fully settled. There’s no easy path here - he has to clear a few more hurdles before the Dodgers can lock him into the roster.
Brandon Gomes said Henriquez is moving in the right direction, and Katie Woo reported, "should he come out of all bye-week activities (live hitters, sim games, etc), he'll be on the NLDS roster."
That matters because the Dodgers’ bullpen still doesn’t have a clean pecking order. The late innings remain unsettled, and Henriquez gives them another arm who can be trusted in leverage spots if he’s ready.
Over the regular season, the Dodgers used him all over the map - as early as the third inning and as late as extra innings. He finished nine games and picked up two saves, while showing off the kind of heat that can change an inning fast. His biggest weapon is simple: he can sit at 100+ MPH with regularity, provided he keeps the ball where he wants it.
Before the injury, Henriquez had been moving toward a more consistent role in the eighth or ninth inning as the Dodgers leaned on a committee approach. That was partly because of Edwin Díaz’s absences and Tanner Scott’s struggles, which left the back end without a firm answer.
Henriquez has been effective across the late innings, holding hitters to a .191 average and a .553 OPS against. With the bullpen still a little uneasy, the Dodgers will once again need their starters to carry as much of the load as possible. But if Henriquez clears the final tests, he gives them another layer of security when the games tighten up in October.
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Dodgers NLDS Opener Comes With A Tough Twist Fans Will Feel
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