Dodgers: Three Takeaways From the Dodgers’ Weekend Series in Frisco

Less bullpen, better results

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The Dodgers’ bullpen was lights out this weekend as they combined to pitch seven innings over the three-game series with just two hits allowed.  A big factor into their performance was the fact that the Dodgers’ starting pitching ate up most of the innings.  The long game they didn’t was Saturday’s win as Rich Hill lasted just five innings.

Julio Urias made up for the short outing from Hill and pitched two shutout innings allowing just one hit in one of his better outings since returning from the administrated leave he was placed on.  Joe Kelly also pitched a scoreless inning with three strikeouts for one of his better outings of the season.

In Sunday’s game, the Dodgers used their current late-inning formula of Pedro Baez in the eighth followed by Kenley Jansen to close out the game and the results were shutout innings to preserve the victory for Walker Buehler and the Dodgers.  There is no doubt the Dodgers should look for at least one reliever, but until then they are fine with a late-inning combo of Baez and Jansen.

The Dodgers’ bullpen is still not one that many fans have trust in but with the rotation pitching deep into most games as of late, the bullpen has responded by pitching better in the shorter stints they are asked.  The bullpen still possesses the talent to at least not be the weakest link on the team, but they have the next month to prove it or else help will be pursued.