Sunday, May 18, 2025
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen resembles a MASH unit. Kirby Yates is the latest reliever to go on the IL with a hamstring pull. Right now, the Dodgers don’t have many high-leverage relievers.
Before spring training started, the national media were drooling over the Dodgers’ bullpen after the team signed Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott and re-signed Blake Treinen. So far this season, Scott is the only one who can pitch now.
Evan Phillips was supposed to be another high-leverage reliever with inflammation in his right elbow. Michael Kopech hasn’t pitched yet in the 2025 season because he has a right shoulder impingement. Brusdar Graterol, who has had right shoulder surgery this past offseason, isn’t expected to pitch until August at the earliest.
If Ben Casparius and Jack Dreyer didn’t step up unexpectedly, the Dodgers would be in trouble.
Already, the Dodger bullpen has pitched 194.2 innings, leading the majors. The Toronto Blue Jays are the next team to use their bullpen, but they have used it for only 174.2 innings. A weary reliever is usually ineffective and prone to injury.
If the Dodgers had a healthy starting rotation, they wouldn’t be using their bullpen as much as they have. Two weeks ago, Dave Roberts said it was not sustainable to have bullpen games. On Sunday, Tony Gonsolin pitched with a cut on his thumb, affecting his control, issuing a career-high five walks. While the cut affected his game, Gonsolin stayed in the game for four innings. If the Dodgers had a rested bullpen, Gonsolin would have been yanked after one batter. Instead, he lasted four innings.
The Dodgers barely have five healthy starters. Blake Snell just began a throwing program after making two starts in the 2025 season. Dodger fans should not expect to see Snell until around the All-Star break.
Tyler Glasnow is on the IL with shoulder and body soreness. He has also begun a throwing program, but it will be a while until he finds a delivery that is comfortable and doesn’t put undue stress on the valuable right arm.
Last Tuesday, the Dodgers were forced to place Roki Sasaki with a right shoulder impingement on the IL. Sasaki has been dealing with the shoulder injury for a while, which has affected his effectiveness. Before the Dodgers signed Sasaki, he had a 100+ miles-per-hour fastball. In his last two starts, Sasaki was averaging 93 miles per hour on his straight fastball. Without the added velocity, Sasaki must come up with another pitch to be a satisfactory major league starter, which the Dodgers saw in spring training.
Clayton Kershaw returned from the IL on Saturday, after having surgery on his knee and toe. While he showed glimpses of greatness, he needs better command to be successful in the 2025 season. He was out early on Sunday working to improve.
Dustin May was great in his first three starts of the 2025 season after missing almost two years with various health issues. In April, he had a 3.95 ERA, but in May, he has a 5.19 ERA because he hasn’t had good command, and his fastball is too straight. He must improve, or the Dodgers should put him in the bullpen when he can cut it loose instead of pacing himself.
Landon Knack wasn’t projected to be a pitcher in the starting rotation. Since the Dodgers have had so many injuries to starters, Knack has to be in the rotation. He hasn’t pitched well with a 5.89 ERA. He must improve quickly.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been the anchor of the rotation. He has rarely had a bad outing. He has 5 wins, 3 losses, because of the lack of offensive support, a 2.12 ERA, and 59 strikeouts.
Everyone in the baseball world thinks the Dodgers will go to the 2025 postseason, but the Dodgers don’t have good pitching. If their pitchers don’t perform better, they will struggle to go to the playoffs.
