Ryan Pepiot performance, Dodgers GM comments breathe life into postseason confidence

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers had a scheduled doubleheader against the Coloardo Rockies. Though they lost the first game, they got a massive positive out of it when Ryan Pepiot twirled another gem.

The right-hander followed up a failed usage of the opener (Caleb Ferguson allowed three earned runs on three hits and a walk in just 0.2 innings) and lasted six innings. He allowed just one earned run on five hits and a walk while striking out nine on 95 pitches.

Pepiot's lone blemish on the year came in a start against the Padres on Sept. 13, which wasn't even all that bad. He allowed four runs on six hits and struck out five over six innings. Other than that? He's yet to allow more than one run in his other six outings (which total 33 innings).

At the moment, the Dodgers continue to field questions about their rotation and playoff pitching plan. They claim to have an unconventional one in order to cope with an ailing Clayton Kershaw, an inexperienced Bobby Miller, and an inconsistent Lance Lynn.

Well, how about another electrifying inexperienced option? Does that help with the confidence and provide a semblance of certainty? Who says Pepiot can't make a playoff start after all we've seen since he's come off the injured list?

Ryan Pepiot performance, Dodgers GM comments breathe life into postseason confidence

Before the game, general manager Brandon Gomes perhaps helped speak another sterling Pepiot outing into existence when he was asked about the Dodgers' roster construction.

Remember months ago when the team let a number of high-profile names leave the organization and they were replaced with one-year flyer deals and rookies? At that point, everyone had anointed the San Diego Padres the NL West champs.

Except ... the Dodgers barely got worse and won the division by double-digit games. They might reach the century mark for wins again despite being far, far worse on paper. That's why Gomes had no choice but to tip his cap to the team's young players for coming through.

James Outman and Bobby Miller have starred, but Pepiot and fellow right-hander Emmet Sheehan are making a late push to hopefully provide the Dodgers with exactly what they need as injuries plagued the roster (on top of the personnel losses in free agency).

The Dodgers played the numbers game this year with their top prospects. They elevated Outman, Miller, Pepiot, Sheehan, Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch. Half of them have largely worked out so far.

That calls for another hat tip for the core of veterans that allowed the Dodgers to weather the storm as they figured all of that out. At the very least, the 2023 postseason could set the tone for a scary good future Dodgers squad that just keeps churning out premier talent.