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Why are Dodgers bullpenning games when they have perfectly capable starters?

ByThomas Carannante|
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks back to the dugout after making a pitching change during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch on February 26, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks back to the dugout after making a pitching change during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch on February 26, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

The Dodgers are still bullpenning games in the World Series. Why?

We’re not saying we have all the answers, and we know there was a short break between the LCS and the World Series, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have five very capable starting pitchers and for some reason continue to bullpen games. Why?

In Game 2 of the Fall Classic against the Tampa Bay Rays, manager Dave Roberts used Tony Gonsolin as the opener and then proceeded to bring in six more pitchers in the eventual 6-4 loss. Game 7 of the NLCS was an all-hands situation, but couldn’t this all have been simpler?

Why couldn’t Roberts go with this rotation?

  1. Walker Buehler
  2. Clayton Kershaw
  3. Julio Urias
  4. Dustin May/Tony Gonsolin

Los Angeles’ bullpen is solid, but it’s not great. To be exposing the unit this much when the starting rotation is clearly the team’s bigger strength just feels like improper utilization of the pitching staff. Buehler, Kershaw and Urias have already proven they can handle starts on the big stage. If you’re concerned about May/Gonsolin, then just throw them together and try to get them to pitch at least three innings apiece.

Instead, Roberts is pitching those two right-handers on two days of rest and using them for 1-2 innings, which is clearly not working. Both of them keep giving up runs in their undefined roles and one could argue they’d be better suited for extended outings. May and Gonsolin mainly started during the regular season. Why are we changing that now?

It’s clear Roberts prefers Buehler, Kershaw and Urias as his top three, but there’s a clear solution for a fourth game instead of using between 6-8 pitchers to get the job done.

“Optionality” we like to call it, I guess. Slap a fancy word/term on the whole unlikeable process to make it sound smart. You’re not fooling us!

Though May proved to be effective in this role against the Padres, he’s faltered big time ever since, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and four walks across 5.1 innings of work against the Braves and Rays. As for Gonsolin, he’s been unimpressive since taking the mound in the NLCS, but it’d be better if he had a role instead of going from starter to middle reliever to opener. Pairing these two for one dual outing would have them better prepared and preserve the bullpen for a more important situation — say, if Buehler had to leave a game early due to his blister issues.

Whatever the Dodgers have been doing since the start of the NLCS really makes you feel like those in charge are over-thinking. It was certainly hard to plan around the “no days off” between the ALDS and ALCS, but having a more definitive blueprint in place could’ve been a lot better for the World Series.

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