ANAHEIM — Going into Monday’s game, the Dodgers’ previous three losses had all been charged to the bullpen, a group that has a collective 4.24 ERA (21st in MLB), 1.34 WHIP (23rd) and 65 home runs allowed (third) while pitching more than 500 innings (the most in the majors).
As he lives with the uneven results he’s getting from the bullpen, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts could take solace in knowing that the current group of relievers is not necessarily the one he will have to call upon in October when the postseason demands more reliability.
“You know what – I honestly don’t say that quite often, if ever, because it’s a possibility that that is a large part of our group (in the postseason),” Roberts said Monday. “Because you just never know as far as how injuries play out. So I just think, for me, it’s just whatever guys we have, we’ve got to feel good about those guys and I’ve got to put them in the best positions to have success as any coach would say. And they have to do their jobs.”
There are four potential high-leverage relievers currently working their way back from injuries who could factor into an October bullpen.
Michael Kopech (knee) threw to hitters in live batting practice on Monday afternoon and is on track to return when he is eligible later this month. He could start a minor-league rehabilitation assignment before the end of this week. Kirby Yates (lower back) is expected to throw to hitters on Wednesday and Tanner Scott (forearm) next week. Brusdar Graterol is in the early stages of a throwing program at the Dodgers’ training complex in Arizona after undergoing shoulder surgery last winter.
In addition, surplus starting pitchers (Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski) could be repurposed as relievers in a postseason bullpen.
A year ago, the Dodgers’ bullpen was critical to their postseason success. But that workload might be a factor in some of this year’s inconsistencies (and injuries).
“I don’t know. That’s a hard one. I don’t think that’s necessarily the case,” Roberts said. “I do think going deeper (in the postseason), there are definitely effects. Evan (Phillips) wasn’t right. I think you can go guy by guy. Up until the last couple, Alex (Vesia) has been fantastic all year. I think you can make that case with Blake (Treinen), who’s just coming back (from a forearm injury). Kirby wasn’t with us. Michael, it’s a knee thing (but he didn’t debut until June after shoulder and forearm issues).
“I don’t know. That’s a good kind of exercise. But I don’t think where we’re at right now it really matters – in the sense of they’re the guys that we have and we have a few guys coming back and they have to pitch well.”
OFF DAY
Outfielder Teoscar Hernandez was not in the starting lineup Monday. Roberts said he “just felt that it’s a good day for him to use today as a work day because we’re going to need him.”
Hernandez has been better recently (7 for 23 with three doubles and two home runs in his past six games). But he has struggled to regain his early-season momentum since returning from a two-week stay on the injured list in May due to a groin muscle injury. Since returning, he has hit .220 with a .655 OPS in 63 games.
“He’s certainly been battling some things in his swing mechanics,” Roberts said. “He’s just not right. He never asks out of the lineup.
“I don’t know. He’s been a hard one for me to sort of pin down as far as what I see. I just think specifically versus right-handed pitching I just don’t see as many competitive at-bats as we’ve seen. I don’t know. I think it’s a mechanical thing, not seeing it well. … I understand there’s some chase in his swing. But there’s just a lot more since he came back from that injury.”
ALSO
First baseman/DH Luken Baker cleared waivers and was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Baker was claimed on waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals a week ago then designated for assignment on Friday after playing one game with OKC.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Emmet Sheehan, 3-2, 3.00 ERA) at Angels (RHP Victor Mederos, 0-0, 4.50 ERA), Tuesday, 6:40 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM