by Megan Garcia
The Dodger bullpen needed to cover nine outs in Game 6 of the World Series. If they did, the Dodgers’ season would live another day.
It wasn’t easy. The Blue Jays threatened.
But Justin Wrobleski, Roki Sasaki and Tyler Glasnow — who was and still is a possibility to start Game 7 on Saturday’s — succeeded.
Now, the Dodgers head to Game 7 in the Fall Classic behind the bullpen’s scoreless outings in Friday’s 3–1 win in Toronto. All pitchers, except for Game 6 starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, will be available for the final game of the year.
“I really didn’t think I was going to get in there, but as the game got a little sticky at the end, I was like, ‘Alright, there’s a real chance I’ll get in the game,’” Glasnow said.
He later added about his availability for Saturday: “I threw barely any pitches. I didn’t warm up a ton either. I threw three pitches. I’m good to go.”
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The Dodger bullpen has struggled in the postseason. Dodger relievers entered Game 6 with a 4.56 ERA in October. Before Friday, they allowed 10 runs in 21 2/3 innings in the World Series.
Wrobleski took over in the seventh for Yamamoto. He faced the bottom four hitters in the lineup, who collectively were 24-for-76 (.316) in the World Series.
“It’s never good taking Yamamoto out of a game, certainly in a playoff game,” Roberts said. “But I think the way that Wrobo’s been throwing the baseball, his confidence, it’s a different look, and I trust him. I felt he was the right guy for that part of the order.”
It took him six pitches to record the first two outs — a swinging strikeout and groundout. After a double by third baseman Ernie Clement, the left-hander battled with Andrés Giménez in an eight-pitch at-bat.
A 97.8-mph fastball finally put Giménez away. Wrobleski let out a roar. A scoreless inning was in the books. It finished his third scoreless outing against Toronto in the Fall Classic.
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Sasaki last faced the Blue Jays during Game 3’s 18-inning marathon at Dodger Stadium. He tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings that night. Four days later, the right-hander did it again and lowered his postseason ERA to 0.84.
Sasaki faced five batters in the eighth, which started with George Springer’s leadoff single. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. worked a one-out walk after a Nathan Lukes fly out. It put a runner in scoring position for Toronto. Sasaki, however, retired the next two batters on his splitter.
A hit by pitch and a ground-rule double put runners on second and third against Sasaki without an out recorded. The Dodgers went to Glasnow.
“I just felt that Roki wasn’t as sharp, and I just felt we needed some swing-and-miss and Glasnow was the guy,” Roberts said. “So, I had him loose, kind of looming, and then the situation (happened).
“I was looking for somebody that can get some swing-and-miss and some kind of elite stuff and that’s why I decided to go with Glasnow.”
Glasnow recorded the first out on one pitch, keeping it in the infield via a pop-up to first.
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Then, his third pitch ended his first career save in his professional career at any level. His 1–0 sinker to Giménez helped create a dramatic double play from left field to second base to give the Dodgers another chance at a World Series title.
“I had a feeling they were going to ambush (me). I don’t really throw a lot of two-seams to righties,” Glasnow said. “I think it ran pretty good inside. Just trying to locate it in and got the quick out. It feels good to get the first out. And then I threw another two-seam and got another out and (then) double play.”
The Dodgers have been creative throughout the postseason with their bullpen. Game 6 was an example by using three pitchers with starting pitching backgrounds. Game 7 might be the next.
2025 World Series: The creative Dodger bullpen locks down the final outs of Game 6 was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.