When the Dodgers finalized their pitching rotation ahead of the 2024 season, the team boasted arguably one of the best starting groups in the league. Even with two-way star Shohei Ohtani not pitching this season, Los Angeles was expected to roll out a dominant five-man rotation that could go up against any other staff in the league.
Months later, as the Dodgers are on the hunt for a World Series title, they don't have a starting pitcher for Game 2 of the NLCS.
Los Angeles is set to pitch a bullpen game in just the second game of the potential seven-game series against New York. While the Mets have their best starting pitcher on the mound, lefty Sean Manaea, on Monday, the Dodgers are going to be using a multitude of arms to get through the contest, starting with reported "starter" Ryan Brasier.
It's not the first time Los Angeles has been forced to utilize a bullpen game in the postseason. When the team was on the brink of elimination against the Padres in the NLDS, the Dodgers called upon the bullpen to deliver in Game 4 of the best-of-five series, trailing 2-1. The result was eight pitchers combining for a shutout, keeping the Dodgers' championship hopes alive.
While the season isn't at risk Monday, the Dodgers have a chance to grab a commanding 2-0 lead over the Mets with a win in Game 2.
MORE: How Dodgers matched the 1966 Orioles for longest shutout postseason streak
So why does Los Angeles not have a starting pitcher for Game 2? The Sporting News explains.
Why don't the Dodgers have a starting pitcher in Game 2?
The main reason why the Dodgers are short-staffed in the starting pitching department is due to injuries that have decimated the group.
Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, Gavin Stone, Dustin May, and Emmett Sheehan are all sidelined with various injuries. While healthy enough to play, Ohtani has not pitched yet this season due to surgery on his elbow last year, and is not expected to take the mound until 2025. Bobby Miller, who was expected to solidify a spot in the rotation in his second MLB season, had a tumultuous 2024 campaign that resulted in his season ending at Triple-A.
As a result, Los Angeles has just four starting pitchers listed on the NLCS roster — Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler and Landon Knack. Technically, the team is only using three of those in a starting role, as Knack has only appeared once in the 2024 postseason, and that came out of the bullpen.
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Most teams cut down their starting rotation to four pitchers by the time October runs around, but Los Angeles has been forced to take it a step further, using only three true starting pitchers. It's possible Knack could see a start at some point, but it appears manager Dave Roberts is more comfortable going with a bullpen game rather than giving the 27-year-old his first career postseason start.
Dodgers pitching rotation
| Rank | Pitcher |
| No. 1 | Jack Flaherty |
| No. 2 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto |
| No. 3 | Walker Buehler |
| No. 4 | Landon Knack |
Who is Ryan Brasier?
While not 100%, Ryan Brasier is expected to start Game 2 for the Dodgers against the Mets.
Dodgers have Ryan Brasier listed as their starter for tomorrow’s bullpen game
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) October 14, 2024
The 37-year-old veteran got the start for the team's bullpen game against the Padres in Game 4. Braiser faced four batters, retiring all four while striking one before he was replaced with one out in the second inning by Anthony Banda.
Brasier is in his first full season with the Dodgers after he was acquired by Los Angeles last year in a trade with Boston. The right-handed reliever won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2018, his first season with the team.
He has 20 appearances in the postseason in his career, sporting a 1-0 record with a 3.86 ERA over 18.2 innings pitched.
What is a bullpen game in MLB?
A bullpen game in the MLB refers to when a team does not use a typical starting pitcher, electing to have a reliever start a game.
These types of contests typically involve a plethora of pitchers being used, since the one who starts the game is not expected to pitch a lengthy amount.
