Dodgers: 3 NLCS-changing pitching mistakes Dave Roberts should regret

3 NLCS pitching mistakes Dave Roberts should regret: Using Corey Knebel as an opener in Game 1

When the Dodgers listed reliever Corey Knebel as the starter for Game 1, it was clear that was intended to be yet another bullpen game. Knebel only pitched one inning and allowed one hit and one run on a wild pitch.

As far as Game 1 goes, the move nearly worked out, as much of the bullpen had a good day. In total, Los Angeles used eight pitchers and, combined, they allowed six hits and three runs. The third run just happened to be the walk-off run.

Where the regret should come in for Roberts is that he entered the game deciding to use much of his bullpen in Game 1, depleting them over the next couple of games in the series. The move puts immense pressure on starters to go deep into the game or it puts the team in tough situations like bringing in Urias to pitch three days before his scheduled start.

Deciding to go to a bullpen game in the first game of the series really put the team at a disadvantage, as they will now be trying to play catch up out of the pen for the remainder of the series. And if Max Scherzer has a dead arm and can’t provide length, that only further throws things into turmoil.

And speaking of…