Dodgers Must Stop Using Their “B” Team Relievers

The Dodgers are in the awkward spot of fighting for a playoff spot but trying to see what their relievers have in case they make the playoffs. The “tryouts” need to stop.

The Dodgers are in the drivers seat to win the NL West, but the division race is far from over even with a week left in the regular season.  The Dodgers enter today’s game with a 1.5 game lead over the Rockies and the Rockies have their ace going so they will most likely win.  The Rockies also have their last seven games at home so the Dodgers are going to need to win the majority of their games left to stay ahead of the Rockies and win the division.

One thing that the Dodgers can’t afford to do, is risk losing by throwing out their relievers who are trying to work themselves into game shape.  A few of those relievers are Yimi Garcia, Tony Cingrani, and John Axford.  It’s time to narrow the relievers used down to those players who have a genuine shot of making the postseason roster.

In Friday’s loss, the Dodgers used John Axford who gave up three hits and two runs without recording an out.  They also used Ryan Madson who has been awful in his time with the Dodgers.  Both combined to allow three runs in a game the Dodgers lost by two runs.  It’s not like the Dodgers have a nice cushion to work with, they are just one game up in the loss column on the Rockies.

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Last night, the Dodgers deployed the same strategy and let Yimi Garcia and Tony Cingrani pitch.  There is no point in using those two relievers unless it’s an emergency or extra innings because there is not enough time for either to work themselves into the playoff roster conversation.  By using those two pitchers, the Dodgers had to use Kenley Jansen in a game that was 7-1 in the ninth inning.

Not only did Jansen have to come into the game, he earned the save as the bases were loaded with only one out.  Jansen was able to shut the door and struck out the two batters he faced, but you should not have to use your closer at any point when the lead is six runs in the ninth inning.  The Dodgers may need to use Jansen a lot this week so using him with a six run lead could hurt the team later on this week.

The Dodgers management team should have a pretty good idea by now of who might make the postseason roster.  They need to treat their current games as playoff games, and only use those relievers they plan to use if they do end up wrapping up another NL West division title.  Using any other relievers might jeopardize their playoff chances.