Dodgers: Who Will be the Unlikely World Series Hero?

Alex Wood

Alex Wood is the forgotten man in the Dodger bullpen.  Wood was demoted to the pen during the regular season and his season statistics are not bad at all as he posted a 3.68 ERA with a 3.13 ERA in the second half of the season.  It was also Alex Wood who delivered an absolute gem in the World Series last year against the Astros, no-hitting them into the sixth inning of game four last year.

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Wood is now in a hybrid long relief/LOOGY role out of the bullpen and he is once again on the World Series roster.  While Julio Urias and Scott Alexander figure to get more action as specialist out of the bullpen, Alex Wood could come in clutch if the Dodgers and Red Sox have another crazy extra innings World Series game.

Last year it was Brandon McCarthy who was essentially the emergency long relief man in the Dodger bullpen and he was lit up whenever he came in to pitch against the Astros.  Wood gives the Dodgers a much more capable long relief arm who could pitch two to four innings and help decide an extra inning game.  If there is another game in this World Series like game five of the 2017 World Series, Alex Wood could boost the Dodger bullpen and help change the momentum of the series.

If a Dodger starter struggles or is pulled early due to injury, it will be Alex Wood who comes in and bridges the gap to the high leverage relievers in the Dodger bullpen.  Wood may be a forgotten man to most, but he could be an unlikely hero for the Dodgers this World Series.