Dave Roberts, the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of his bullpen.
Edwin Diaz has managed to secure saves in three of his five recent outings since returning from the injured list, including a tough 5-4 defeat against the Milwaukee Brewers. However, when reporters inquired whether Diaz would continue to pitch in the ninth inning after this loss, Roberts struggled with the question, seemingly searching for answers.
“What are the alternatives?” Roberts asked. “I need another option. Honestly, no one in baseball seems to be pitching particularly well lately.”
Despite having arguably one of the most talented rosters in baseball, Roberts feels cornered into keeping Diaz as the closer, even though he currently holds an ERA of 11.57. The Dodgers committed to a three-year, $69 million contract with Diaz during the offseason, so it’s clear they feel a certain obligation to keep him in this role after such a significant investment.
Yet, the Dodgers are dropping games they can’t afford if they hope to secure a bye in the first playoff round. They fielded five relief pitchers in Thursday’s game without getting a win.
Roberts is not feeling great about his other options. Tanner Scott has a decent 2.25 ERA and 16 saves this season—he even stepped in as closer earlier this year—but his recent performance has been inconsistent.
Scott had a rough last season, finishing with the fewest saves in the league after signing a $72 million deal with the Dodgers. He usually excels in a setup position, and a recent decline in his velocity doesn’t inspire much confidence.
Edgardo Henriquez could be an alternative, but he’s still young and lacks control. Alex Bashear has displayed strength in high-pressure situations, but he’s been grappling with walk issues recently. At the moment, it seems like Jack Dryer has emerged as the team’s most reliable reliever.
Nevertheless, Dryer didn’t shine either, as he surrendered a game-tying two-run homer against the Kansas City Royals.
So, where do the Dodgers go from here?
Los Angeles is facing a bullpen crisis just as they need to ramp up performance heading into the postseason. Yet, it’s important to note that the struggles of the pitching staff aren’t solely their fault.
With Shohei Ohtani out of the starting rotation, the bullpen has been called into action more frequently. The team’s recent streak of narrow losses has added extra pressure.
The Dodgers began the season with one of the top bullpens in the league, but maintaining that level of performance has proven challenging.
As for Diaz, it’s an uncertain situation.
