The Los Angeles Dodgers' fanbase is amped up, and why shouldn't they be? After taking down the vaunted San Diego Padres' lineup during Games 4 and 5 of the National League Division Series, the Dodgers have a date with the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series with a trip to the World Series on the line.
LA's pitching staff stymied the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado and sent the Padres back to San Diego with their hat in hand. But the Dodgers' 2-0 win in Game 5 did have a loss attached to it that could greatly affect LA's bullpen heading into the upcoming NLDS.
Concerning Alex Vesia injury overlooked as LA Dodgers put emphatic end to Padres' season
Alex Vesia got the final out during the top of the seventh inning during Game 5 of the NLDS. Evan Phillips had just struck out both Jurickson Profar and Machado and manager Dave Roberts handed the ball to Vesia to get the final out. The southpaw got Padres' rookie Jackson Merrill to swing and miss for strike three, and the Dodgers retired the Friars' lineup in order.
But unfortunately, Vesia exited the game in the top of the eighth inning with a trainer shortly after he was warming up. This obviously was unsettling at the time, not only because two of the next three Padres' hitters were left-handed, but Vesia has been lights out for the Dodgers all year. The 28-year-old made 67 appearances out of the bullpen during the regular season and owned a sparkling 1.76 ERA with 87 punchouts.
Byt the Dodgers had no choice but to move on. They couldn't harp in the moment. Roberts had to make a decision on his toes. Thankfully, reliever Michael Kopech was able to handle the San Diego lineup in the eighth inning and set the Padres down in order.
Vesia said he was cramping, and that was the reason for his premature exit. The team will send Vesia for scans, and the hope is that all systems are go for him to join Los Angeles' NLCS roster when the Dodgers and Mets open up the series on Sunday.