The Los Angeles Dodgers are supposed to be contending for a World Series.
On paper they're in the mix. LA sits just 3.0 games back of the Phillies for the best record in Major League Baseball. Instability on the pitching staff paints a different picture of where the Dodgers stand in the MLB hierarchy.
Thanks to injuries and some lackluster performances from their bullpen, the Dodgers fell two spots in the most recent ESPN MLB power rankings. They entered the week at No. 3, and fell to No. 5 after the trade deadline failed to solidify their group of relievers.
Via ESPN's Alden Gonzalez:
The Dodgers welcomed Brusdar Graterol back on Monday, after he had spent the entire season rehabbing a shoulder injury, but then promptly placed fellow reliever Blake Treinen on the injured list with hip discomfort. The following day, on his eighth pitch of the year, Graterol suffered a hamstring strain that might end his season. The Dodgers' roster has been in flux for quite a while, and it is most evident in their bullpen. Two key injured relievers -- Treinen and Ryan Brasier -- are expected to rejoin the staff in the next week or two. But the Dodgers have struggled to get any continuity late in games and don't currently have a defined closer. Since the All-Star break, their relievers have posted a 4.59 ERA, 19th in the majors.
This may be the biggest hurdle LA has to clear if they want to contend in October. Their starting staff has started to come together, but their inability to hold leads late in games will be a major problem in tight postseason games.
A bad bullpen also places added pressure on the starting rotation. That rotation has been better lately, but it's a group of unproven postseason performers. Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone are both setting career highs in innings. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been out since mid-June because of a shoulder injury. Jack Flaherty has some playoff experience, but he hasn't started a postseason game since 2020.
Having a better group of relievers would take the onus off that starting group to stretch deep into games.
Ideally, they'd be able to get their bullpen in order where starters would be okay going five innings. As it stands, the starters will need to get through seven or eight innings to try and limit their bullpen usage.
Getting that group ironed out before the playoffs needs to be LA's top priority down the stretch. Their World Series hopes depend on it.
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