The Dodgers head into October with a bullpen that looks built for the moment, and the late-season surge from a few key arms has given Dave Roberts real options.
That group starts with Roki Sasaki, who made just three relief appearances after coming off the injured list and beginning his move out of the rotation. The results were as clean as they come.
He didn’t allow a run, logged a strong -0.90 FIP, and his fastball averaged 99.1 MPH with plenty of life. His splitter and slider also held up well.
Sasaki gave up only two hits, struck out six, and didn’t issue a walk. He has already handled postseason closing duties once, and now he looks like a flexible weapon for Roberts.
Edwin Diaz followed a different path, but he ended the year in a much better place than he started. After a rough regular season in which he carried a four-digit ERA, Diaz returned in September after dealing with neck inflammation and pitched like the reliever the Dodgers thought they were getting when they signed him for $69 million.
Over five innings, he allowed just one hit, walked one batter, and struck out nine. He worked in a lower-leverage role, but the turnaround was strong enough to push him back into the closer discussion.
Even more importantly, he secured himself a postseason roster shot after looking like he might be on the outside.
Evan Phillips has not made the loudest noise, but he has been steady. In his last month of work, he threw 8.1 innings with a 2.16 ERA and a 2.50 FIP.
Stretch that out to the last month and a half, and the numbers get even better: a 1.93 ERA and a 1.89 FIP. Phillips does give up fly balls, but Roberts clearly trusts him, and that means middle relief or late-inning work should be in play.
Alex Vesia also finished on a high note. After a strong start and a rougher stretch in the middle of the season, the left-hander settled back in down the stretch.
In September, he posted a 0.87 ERA and a 1.75 FIP over his final 10.1 innings. For a pitcher with his experience, that kind of finish matters.
His fastball movement is still a plus, and he has shown he can come in, calm things down, and get a team out of trouble.
In Other News...
Dodgers Face A Miguel Rojas Postseason Wrinkle They Didn't Expect
Miguel Rojas is juggling more than the usual October pressure as the Dodgers get ready for the National League Division Series. The veteran infielder is scheduled to take his U.S. citizenship test on Oct. 2 in Miami, a timing quirk that could pull him away from the club at the exact moment the postseason begins. Rojas is hoping to make it back in time for Game 1, but the Dodgers are once again being asked to plan around a player whose value goes beyond the box score.
There is also a bigger layer hanging over the situation, one that makes this more than just a travel inconvenience. Rojas has said he would only keep playing if the Dodgers offer him a contract, and his current deal runs out after the World Series, leaving his future unsettled even as the club tries to line up for October. For a team that has leaned on experience and versatility all season, it is a reminder that the roster questions do not stop when the bracket does. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Finally Know When Their NLDS Opener Will Begin
The Dodgers finally have a start time for their NLDS opener, and it comes with the usual October combination of anticipation and uncertainty. Major League Baseball set Game 1 of Los Angeles Division Series for Saturday at 1 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium, giving the club a clear target as it waits to learn whether its opponent will be the Braves or the Phillies.
The broader playoff picture also tightened up Wednesday, when the Padres beat the Cubs 4-1 to finish a two-game sweep in the wild card series and move on to face the Brewers. For the Dodgers, the next step still depends on the result of the Atlanta-Philadelphia game, and while the first pitch is locked in, the remaining schedule for the series has yet to be determined. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers NLDS Opener Comes With A Tough Twist Fans Will Feel
The Dodgers now know their NLDS opener will arrive Saturday at 1 p.m. PT, and the matchup will come against either the Braves or the Phillies once the deciding game is settled Thursday. San Diegos sweep through the Wild Card round cleared the path for Los Angeles, but the first step of this next series carries an immediate test before a pitch is even thrown.
Forecasts are calling for temperatures near 100 degrees for the opener, a brutal backdrop that could shape how the game is played. Heat this extreme can wear on hitters and lengthen the challenge for both clubs, making the start of the series feel less like a normal October afternoon and more like a survival test. [Read more 🡒]