By Mark Langill
During his first playoff rodeo, relief pitcher Blake Treinen of the 2016 Washington Nationals remembered the basic advice he received years earlier in his career.
Never mind the words of wisdom came from a first baseman, Adam LaRoche, and an outfielder, Jayson Werth. Their secret to performing in big games is something Treinen carried through the next decade.
“Every out is magnified,” Treinen said. “So just take the outs when you can get them. Don’t try to make it a little bigger than it is.”
Treinen’s first postseason experience was facing the Dodgers in the 2016 Division Series. It was Dave Roberts’ first season as Los Angeles manager and the Dodgers won the series in a decisive Game 5 at Washington.
As Roberts became the first National League manager to go 10-for-10 in his first 10 seasons in making the playoffs, he now leans on Treinen’s experience.
“I think he does a great job of handling his emotions,” Roberts said of Treinen. “When you’re pitching in playoff games and big spots, it doesn’t matter what the season ERA is. It’s what you do in a particular moment. I think for me, I’m willing to bet on certain players in big spots, regardless of other things that have led up to that moment. Blake’s one of those guys.”
At age 37, Treinen is now the veteran keeping cool, even when facing a bases-loaded jam with two outs in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series at Milwaukee. He successfully walked the reliever’s tightrope to save the Dodgers’ 2–1 victory.
After nearly hitting Brice Turang with an inside pitch, he struck him out to rekindle the familiar feeling of a closer, something he knows very well. Treinen has 82 career saves in the regular season, including 38 during an All-Star campaign with Oakland in 2018.
His fifth season with the Dodgers in 2025 was a challenge as Treinen went 2–7 with a 5.40 ERA in 32 games. As the bullpen wobbled late in the season, so did Treinen. In 12 appearances in September/October, he went 1–5 with a 9.64 ERA.
“Obviously this year’s had its struggles,” Treinen said on Tuesday before Game 2. “A lot of things trying to work through, the elbow injury, trying to find myself again. Certainly haven’t been at the clip that I believe that I’m capable of, nor do the Dodgers think I’m capable of.”
Treinen wasn’t scheduled to pitch against the Brewers after starter Blake Snell’s eight scoreless innings.
Rookie Roki Sasaki, the team’s new October high-leverage reliever after abbreviated on-the-job training, struggled for the first time in the ninth inning. He threw a first-pitch strike to only one of the five batters he faced while allowing a run on one hit and two walks.
No closer is perfect, so Treinen expects Sasaki to bounce back. And Treinen is ready if needed again in the ninth if Sasaki isn’t available for back-to-back outings.
“The talent itself, I think, as players, if you keep the focus simple, is we’re just getting outs. I know it sounds pretty simple and kind of cliché-ish, but when you keep it that simple he’s been able to narrow his focus and execute,” Treinen said of Sasaki.
Sound similar? It’s close to the same advice Treinen received all those years ago.
2025 NLCS: Treinen still showing that he is a key piece of the bullpen was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.