Dodgers: Lessons learned from a weekend series in NY

Three bullpen lessons learned in NY

Dave Roberts is clearly using the remaining schedule to get relievers used to some scenarios that they may encounter in October.  Julio Urias has pitched out of the bullpen to begin innings for much of the season.  On Saturday he was brought into the game with runners on base.  Julio struggled hitting and walking a batter before allowing a three run double.  Urias may not be able to come into games with runners on base if he continues to blow opportunities like he did on Saturday.

Dustin May also continued to pitch in relief and delivered a scoreless inning on Sunday as he escaped a jam that he created.  That makes it three straight scoreless appearances out of bullpen for May and he is trending in the right direction for the postseason roster.  A few more scoreless outings to close to season and it would be tough to leave Dustin off of the postseason roster.

The third bullpen lesson learned in New York was that perhaps Kenley Jansen is rounding back into form.  He pitched a scoreless eighth inning on Sunday in his only action during the series.  Jansen struck out Pete Alonso on three pitches and hit 95 on his last pitch to Alonso.  It marked the second straight outing in which Kenley had velocity and location.

Adding further to the postseason auditions, the Dodgers used a combination of Adam Kolarek and Kenta Maeda for the ninth inning with a one run lead.  Maeda finished off the inning and earned the save.  He could be asked to finish a similar situation in the postseason.