By Megan Garcia
Brent Honeywell knew what his role would be in the postseason. He just needed a roster spot to open up for him.
With Alex Vesia out of the National League Championship Series due to an intercostal injury, Honeywell found himself on his first postseason roster. He pitched three scoreless innings on Monday in his playoff debut — three important scoreless innings.
“Those are innings that a guy like that gives the best chance to win the following, ensuing game,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s not lost on anyone in that clubhouse what Honey did for us.”
Honeywell steadied the Dodger bullpen in the 7–3 loss in Game 2 of the NLCS. Honeywell faced 12 batters — the second most among Dodger relievers, behind Landon Knack’s 14. He struck out two hitters, walked one and gave up one hit.
Honeywell’s three innings allowed the Dodgers to save some of their high-leverage arms for later in the series. The Dodgers now go into New York and Game 3 with Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen and Michael Kopech on four days’ rest.
Honeywell was one of five relievers in the second bullpen game for the Dodgers this postseason. He led them with three innings pitched.
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“I knew what my job was right then and there,” Honeywell said. “It was to keep us in the game. These are games I know we can swing our way back into it.”
The Mets took control in the first after Ryan Brasier surrendered a run in the first and Knack was tagged for five runs in the second. Entering Monday’s game, the Dodger pitching staff had not given up a run in 33 consecutive innings.
Anthony Banda halted the Mets in the fourth, leading to Honeywell’s entrance in the fifth.
It wasn’t predetermined how many innings Honeywell would toss.
“It was more of [Doc] would take the ball from me (when he decided),” Honeywell said. “That’s how I want to pitch anyway. The game didn’t necessarily go as planned, but baseball happened.”
The 29-year-old was claimed off waivers in mid-July after the Pirates designated him for assignment. After 10 appearances for the Dodgers — where he gave up five earned runs in 20 1/3 innings — he was designated for assignment again on Aug. 18.
But two weeks later, Honeywell was back with the Dodgers. He pitched 14 innings, giving up five earned runs, in his second stint with Los Angeles before a cracked fingernail landed him on the injured list on Sept. 24.
Now in his first postseason run, Honeywell expressed that he would assume any role the Dodgers thrust him into. He knows the postseason is unpredictable, but trusts himself in situations to excel.
“He did exactly what we needed,” Roberts said. “He allowed us to kind of chew up some innings, keep us in the ball game. He’s just kind of a guy that we trust.”
NLCS: Brent Honeywell steadies the bullpen in first postseason appearance was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.