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Predicting the Dodgers’ bullpen hierarchy entering the 2024 season
As Dodgers fans eagerly wait to watch a new fully-loaded starting rotation, the strength of the bullpen in the upcoming season may be overlooked, which includes a variety of talented arms to battle the tough NL West.
The organization has returned most of its stellar bullpen that was third in all of baseball last year in ERA at 3.42 and is headlined by closer Evan Phillips and setup man Brusdar Graterol. A few midseason additions made a quick impact in the 2023 season, like struggling former Red Sox reliever Ryan Brasier and Joe Kelly.
Where do things stand now?
Dodgers' Bullpen Trust Tree Entering 2024 Season
Dodgers Bullpen Headliners
For the second consecutive season, Evan Phillips is expected to be the Dodgers' de facto closer to begin the 2024 season. Coming off an astonishing first two and a half seasons in a Dodgers uniform, when Phillips earned a 1.74 ERA in 133 appearances, the righty brings an arsenal of a devastating sweeper and three variations of fastballs. The former 17th-round pick by the Braves will be expected to be the fearful arm out of the bullpen to lead the Dodgers to their goal of a championship.
Fans will look for hard-throwing right-hander Brusdar Graterol to build off last season when he was arguably one of the top relievers in the National League. Graterol, acquired just before the 2020 COVID season, will be expected to set up Phillips to create an unhittable eighth and ninth-inning combination.
Dodgers' Promising Returnees
Veteran Joe Kelly had a brutal start in 2023 during his second season with the White Sox, but once he was acquired by the Dodgers in late July, he returned to his old dominant form. Kelly, who was recently re-signed by president Andrew Friedman, finished the year by only surrendering three runs in eleven appearances and quickly solidified himself as one of the more trusted relievers in the bullpen.
Like Kelly, former Red Sox Ryan Brasier was one of the best relievers in baseball after his signing in June by posting an 0.70 ERA (after having an ERA above 7.00 before his release from the Sox). Ryan Yarbrough will become a crucial piece to this team as he gives Dave Roberts the ability to use him for length in a blowout, as well as a starter option if needed.
Though he struggled during his time with LA last season, the lefty’s versatility and success in the past give the Dodgers hope that Yarbrough will be effective in his role.
Dodgers Bounce-Back Candidates
Los Angeles is expecting two bullpen pieces to return from injury after having the same shoulder surgery a month apart in late 2022. J.P Feyereisen has yet to throw a pitch for the Dodgers, but when healthy, he showed flashes of success, including during a shortened 2022, when he didn’t give up a run in 24.1 innings. Another pitcher returning from injury is veteran Blake Treinen, who will not start the year as a high-leverage option, but could be a lockdown late-inning piece if he proves he can return to his 2021 form. Both coming off injury, Feyereisen and Treinen could be strong options for the sixth or seventh innings before Dave Roberts goes to Graterol and Phillips.
With both lefties Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez departing to the Yankees in moves to clear space on the 40-man roster, California native lefty Alex Vesia will need to pick up some of their workload. Vesia, after two stellar seasons in 2021 and 2022, struggled in 2023 with an ERA north of four, and looks to lower his inflated hits per nine innings that jumped by about 3.5 last season.
Dave Roberts said Blake Treinen (shoulder surgery), J.P. Feyereisen (shoulder surgery) and Daniel Hudson (sprained MCL) are all tracking to be on the active roster in Korea.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 16, 2024
Roberts said Hudson is still working through some execution stuff after missing close to two seasons.
There are still expected to be others in the mix as the roster pans out toward the end of spring, with pitchers like Emmet Sheehan and Daniel Hudson potentially in the running to be bullpen options as well. As the attention has been focused on the star-studded rotation, Dodgers fans should look forward to a lockdown bullpen with better depth and championship potential.
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