The Dodgers may not be shutting the door on Blake Treinen quite as tightly as they were a week ago.
Andrew Friedman said Saturday that Treinen’s postseason status is “not decided firmly,” a notable shift after manager Dave Roberts had already ruled the right-hander out for October following the shoulder injury he suffered while warming up for a relief appearance in San Francisco.
“It was clear for this round,” Friedman said, “but we'll keep monitoring it as we go.”
That is a softer read than the one Roberts gave when Treinen landed on the injured list after the Dodgers’ Sept. 26 game against the Giants. At the time, Roberts sounded grim about the injury.
“I don't know if it was a complete blowout, but really unfortunate,” Roberts said at the time.
Friedman used a less alarming description on Saturday, calling the issue “soreness.” However it is labeled, the possibility of Treinen getting back into the mix would be meaningful only if he is healthy enough to force his way into a bullpen that is already crowded with arms the Dodgers trust.
Treinen’s track record explains why this even comes up. Across 12 MLB seasons, including the last six in Los Angeles, he is 49-42 with a 2.94 ERA and 83 saves. He has not always been the Dodgers’ closer, but he has long been a steady source of strikeouts, run prevention and big October moments as the club has won three World Series titles this decade.
Last postseason, Treinen delivered again. In 2024, he saved three postseason games in three chances, gave up just three runs over nine October appearances, and earned the win in Game 5 of the World Series against the New York Yankees after throwing 2.1 scoreless relief innings.
If Treinen does return this month, it would mean more than just a good medical update. It would mean at least one other reliever, and probably more than one, got squeezed out.
The Dodgers already left two pitchers who looked like October possibilities, left-handers Justin Wrobleski and Jack Dreyer, off the roster for the National League Division Series, a choice driven in large part by the opponent. And the path back for Treinen would be a steep one. He would have to beat out Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Brock Stewart, Roki Sasaki, Evan Phillips, Edgardo Henriquez, Edwin Diaz and Kris Bubic, along with Wrobleski and Dreyer.
Right-handers Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan also have lockers and could be available if needed. Another right-hander, Will Klein, finished the season on the injured list like Treinen, but his throwing progression has put him in position to rejoin the roster if necessary.
For now, Treinen’s status looks more like a small subplot than a central October storyline. But after sounding out of the picture just a week ago, even a possible return is enough to register.
In Other News...
Dodgers Let NLDS Control Slip Away After Another Offensive Letdown
Blake Snells afternoon never found a rhythm, and the Dodgers could not do enough offensively to take advantage of the opening it created. Los Angeles dropped a 3-2 decision to the Braves in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, a result that evened the series at one game apiece and left the Dodgers searching for the timely hit that has been missing too often in October.
Snell issued a season-high five walks, and the game turned on a chaotic stretch that included a wild pitch from Braves reliever Kris Bubic before Atlanta grabbed the go-ahead run. Freddie Freeman also came through for the Braves with a home run, his first since Sept. 2, adding another swing that helped flip the momentum and leave the Dodgers with a split instead of control. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Face A Lineup Decision That Could Test Braves In Game 3
After getting bottled up by the Braves in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, the Dodgers are staring at a familiar October problem: how to jolt an offense that went quiet when it needed to answer back. Atlanta leaned on multiple pitchers to keep Los Angeles in check, and now Dave Roberts is weighing a lineup tweak for Game 3 as the series shifts into a more urgent phase for a team trying to avoid elimination.
The concern centers on center fielder Andy Pages, whose postseason struggles have become hard to ignore, and that has opened the door for Enrique Hernandez to potentially step in and give the lineup a different look. Hernandez has earned a reputation as a reliable October bat, which is part of what makes this decision so interesting for the Dodgers, who need more than just better at-bats now - they need a spark that can change the feel of the series. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Suddenly Face A Real Andy Pages Lineup Dilemma
Andy Pages arrived at October with the kind of profile the Dodgers hoped would translate, but through two postseason games he has not found much traction. He has gone hitless in eight plate appearances, drawing one walk and striking out four times, and the swing-and-miss issues have stood out even more because they are so far above his regular-season norms. For a Dodgers lineup built to keep pressure on opposing pitching, that kind of drop-off from a regular contributor quickly becomes hard to ignore.
Dave Roberts has already made one adjustment by limiting Pages ability to challenge calls, a small but telling sign that the club is trying to manage both the player and the moment. If the struggles continue, the Dodgers do not appear short on alternatives, which only adds to the tension around Pages spot. In October, even a young hitter with legitimate upside can find himself one rough stretch away from a lineup debate. [Read more 🡒]