The Dodgers Should Acquire an Innings Eater to Help Alleviate Bullpen

The season 2018 regular season is flying by. With half the season nearly gone, the bullpen has been taxed heavy. This is in direct response to starting pitching not staying healthy. With that said, should the Dodgers look into acquiring an innings eater to help relieve the bullpen until the reinforcements arrive.

The bullpen struggled early on in the season, but have been lights out when they have been needed most. This run the Dodgers are on really doesn’t make sense. The only pitcher who started the season as a starter that didn’t get hurt is Alex Wood, and he has not pitched well at all.

The remaining four starters have all seen time on the DL. Kershaw with both a bicep and back injury, Maeda with a strained right hip, Ryu with a major groin injury and finally Rich Hill with that nagging blister issue.

In came the reinforcements (or so we thought). Walker Buehler was dealing before he took a line drive off the ribs which caused a micro fracture and he will be out for at least two weeks. Dennis Santana never even got to make his first start before he went down with a major shoulder injury. Caleb Ferguson has not been good in his first two starts. Finally, the only reinforcement that has been good and healthy is Ross Stripling.

Maeda recently returned from his DL stint adding some much-needed depth to the rotation. Rich Hill is currently doing rehab stints so he should be back soon. Kershaw is working hard to get back as soon as possible. But as it stands right now, the rotation is Wood, Maeda, Stripling, Ferguson.

If the Dodgers don’t want their bullpen to be completely gassed down the stretch, they need to look into adding an innings eater for their rotation.

An argument can be made that there is no need to add any more arms to the rotation because they will be getting the original starting rotation back soon.

However, I say go and get a workhorse starter. My reasoning behind this is quite simple, the Dodgers need pitchers who go out and give them six-plus innings of solid pitching. They don’t need a big arm like DeGrom or Syndergaard; a veteran pitcher would suffice.

Even if all the pieces do come back how reliable are they? Rich Hill is a very good pitcher; the problem is he is never able to shake that blister problem. It creeps up on him, and even the fire that he has can’t pitch through an issue like that, and he is pulled early into games once again taxing the bullpen.

Alex Wood has been bad lately and his poor performances on the mound cause Roberts to go to the bullpen early and often when Wood is slated as the starter. Kershaw returned from injury only to go back on the DL immediately after making his first start back. That Leaves Kenta Maeda, Ross Stripling, and Walker Buehler.

Maeda and Stripling have been a God send this season, racking up quality start after quality start. The same could be said about Buehler. It is not the injury that worries me about the reliability of Buehler; it is that innings limit the Dodgers have him on.

More from LA Dodgers News

• Aaron Judge leaving Giants directionless is another massive win for Dodgers
• Cody Bellinger avoided breaking Dodgers fans’ hearts with free agency decision
• Trea Turner spurns Dodgers for Phillies, Gavin Lux is now LA’s shortstop
• Which Dodgers top prospects deserve to crack 2023 Opening Day roster?
• 4 big moves at Winter Meetings Dodgers fans should be anticipating

If the Dodgers do indeed have Buehler on a strict innings limit and shut him down as soon as he hits the innings mark that could be trouble later in the season. I believe Buehler’s usage should go down despite his remarkable pitching.

This is because they need him to get into and through the playoffs. Adding another arm that could make spot starts would be more than ideal. A pitcher who would be mainly utilized in a long relief role but can be a sixth starter and make spot starts whenever the Dodgers feel it’s necessary.

Or of course they could trade for another ace like DeGrom, and I would not be mad at that.

But for now, I am just asking for a small acquisition to help save some of the bullpen arms for the home stretch of the season.

Three players come to mind when thinking about a player who is just a veteran innings eater.

The first of which is a player who is no stranger to being moved during the season. Jaime Garcia. He was dealt twice last season. First from the Braves to the Twins, then from the Twins to the Yankees because the Twins could not decide if they were buyers or sellers last season. He would fit nicely and be happy to be with a contender.

Secondly, is Ivan Nova. He isn’t going to blow you away with his numbers, but this guy is a grinder. He does what the Dodgers need which is go out and give you a solid 5-6 innings every time he pitches. He has worked out of the bullpen so making him a long reliever with the opportunity to start on days when a sixth starter is needed would be a nice fit for him.

Next: Dodgers Quick Hits: Hill, Bellinger, Giants

Finally, my favorite option of the bunch, Bartolo Colon. Yes, the Dodgers just lit him up on Tuesday night, but that’s the past. Everyone would love to see Colon wear Dodger blue. He also fits nicely. He can clean up an ugly start as a reliever or make a start whenever needed, he just goes out and pitches.  The Dodgers are in a very weird position at the moment. I believe acquire a pitcher who will grind out innings over the bullpen is very beneficial for the team later on in the season.