Dodgers: How the Playoff Bullpen Should Be Constructed

Luis Avilan and Alex Wood

Left-handed specialists will be critical for the Dodgers as they will potentially be facing batters such as Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Charlie Blackmon, Jake Lamb and Anthony Rizzo. They have the lockdown right-handers but have gone all year without one from the left side.

Alex Wood has been rumored to be moved to the bullpen for the playoffs, and Cesar Becerra points out that he may need to. He’s been good his last two starts, but before then, was showing signs of fatigue and was also placed on the DL with the same injury he suffered at the end of May.

This would be an excellent way to preserve his health while simultaneously giving Los Angeles a weapon out of the bullpen. He has the stuff and perfect funky delivery to make for a good left-handed specialist.

Batters won’t have the reps to get used to him as he will only be in for an inning, or two, at most. And the best part is, he’s thrown 5.1 scoreless innings as a reliever this season and has a .197 batting average against in high-leverage situations.

Avilan has been good this year even though it may not seem like it, and more surprisingly, has been close to lights out vs. lefty hitters. He has limited them to a meager .198 batting average.

The Dodgers would not need him to go a full inning, just get one or two outs if needed.