Dodgers: Sorting Out Who Makes the Opening Day Bullpen

The Dodgers roster picture is beginning to become crystal clear.  The bullpen competition was wide open when the spring began but now it is down to only a few competitors.

At the beginning of spring training, the Dodgers’ bullpen was one big mess.  Not only were there more relievers than you could fit on a CVS receipt, but the starting rotation battle directly impacted who would make up the Dodger pen.  Clayton Kershaw’s injury moved Ross Stripling from the bullpen to the rotation and then Tony Cingrani’s injury and Josh Fields’ release further depleted the bullpen competition.

Now with just two games remaining in Arizona followed by three more exhibition games in southern California, the Dodgers’ projected bullpen is starting to become more obvious.  Here are the locks and pitchers that should begin the season in the Dodger bullpen.

Locks: Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Pedro Baez, Julio Urias

Jansen and Kelly are locks for obvious reasons, they are the two best relievers and the two most expensive pitchers in the bullpen.  Julio Urias is a lock as Dave Roberts has already announced that Julio will fill the Ross Stripling long relief role.  Pedro Baez has earned the right to be a lock for the bullpen as he had another solid season last year and further developed his changeup.

The rest of the bullpen: Yimi Garcia, Caleb Ferguson, Dylan Floro, Scott Alexander

Yimi Garcia is out of options and that is why he should make the bullpen.  He has also had a very good spring pitching 8 1/3 scoreless innings and holding the opposition to a .194 average.  His fastball has its trademark run and his velocity is back.  Scott Alexander has also had a good spring and fills the second left-handed specialist role with Urias the designated long reliever.

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Dylan Floro and Caleb Ferguson have both struggled this spring with both posting ERA’s over five but both were important pieces in the 2018 bullpen.  Ferguson was lights out in relief last year and could be more than a left-handed specialist given his power stuff.  He posted a 47:6 strikeout to walk ratio as a reliever last season.  Floro is a ground ball pitcher who helps induce inning-ending double plays.

Last bullpen cuts: Stetson Allie, Kevin Quackenbush, Luis Vasquez

Stetson Allie has impressed this spring hitting 100 miles per hour on the radar gun with his fastball.  He has had trouble throwing strikes as evidenced by his seven walks in eight-plus innings but he has held the opposition to a .074 average,  He could find himself in Los Angeles later this season.

Kevin Quackenbush broke out with the Padres in 2014 but has had difficulty finding the same success ever since.  He will be a depth option in Triple-A Oklahoma City.  Luis Vasquez was a minor league signing in January and has been impressive this spring pitching to a 1.42 ERA and allowing just one hit in 6 1/3 innings.  He will make up the OKC bullpen along with Allie and Quackenbush.

My prediction has the Dodgers entering the season with an eight-man bullpen.  Given that Urias is the long reliever and on an innings limit, the Dodgers will not use him often during the early stages of the season so they need the extra reliever in the pen.  With the rotation all set except for the order, the bullpen is one of the few remaining areas for Dave Roberts to sort out.