Friday, May 30, 2025
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen suffered another significant blow when they learned Evan Phillips will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. Entering the season, the baseball pundits thought the Dodgers would have the best bullpen in baseball history.
Now, Andrew Friedman is looking for warm bodies with relieving experience. Since the Dodgers have used their bullpen the most in the major leagues, they must have a good bullpen to be an elite team.
Currently, the Dodgers have an entire All-Star bullpen on the IL, and most relievers are expected to come back.
When Phillips first went on the IL, every Dodger brass member expected Phillips to return to the active roster in fifteen days, but he didn’t respond to treatment the way expected. In the 2025 season, Phillips hurled in 7 games and pitched 5.2 innings without allowing a run. Losing Phillips is a huge blow for the Dodgers.
Since April 17, Blake Treinen has been on the IL with a strained right forearm. He has responded to treatment, so the Dodgers expect him to return to the active roster. However, Treinen could be like Phillips.
At any time, Michael Kopech should be returning to the active roster from a right shoulder injury. His return will help the Dodgers’ bullpen a lot because he can either be a setup man or a closer.
In August, the Dodgers expect Brusdar Graterol to return from having offseason right shoulder surgery. Since he has experience hurling during divisional race and the postseason, he won’t be nervous and should perform well.
Soon, Kirby Yates will return from a hamstring pull. He has shown glimpses of being a great reliever while blowing leads.
Now, the weary Dodgers’ bullpen is a team liability. Anthony Banda, Tanner Scott, and Alex Vesia haven’t performed the way that the Dodgers thought entering the 2025 season. This adds trouble to the injured bullpen.
People could predict the regression of Banda. Before coming to the Dodgers in the 2024 season, he was a journeyman left-handed reliever who considered retirement before last year. Compared to a 3.08 ERA last season, Banda’s 4.01 ERA this season is disappointing, but he can take the ball whenever Dave Roberts calls upon him, which is valuable at this point in the 2025 season.
When Scott was with the San Diego Padres, he was almost unhittable. However, after Scott signed a four-year, $72 million contract, he became human. In 26 games, Scott has 10 saves, 5 blown saves, and a 4.62 ERA. If Roberts had any other experienced, high-leverage relievers available, he would move off Scott as a closer temporarily.
Vesia has historically struggled in the first half in baseball seasons, and this one hasn’t been an exception. For some reason, Vesia has been allowing first-pitch home runs. He will improve as the season progresses.
The Dodgers don’t want to imagine their bullpen without rookies Jack Dreyer and Ben Casparius. These youngsters have been pleasant surprises.
Friedman has been shopping for relievers to fill in until the injured relievers return. Lou Trivino has been brilliant as a Dodger. On Thursday, Friedman acquired Alexis Díaz from the Cincinnati Reds. While Díaz has struggled this season, he is a former All-Star closer. The Dodgers hope they will unlock something with their new reliever to make him special.
Losing Phillips to Tommy John surgery is something that the Dodgers didn’t need, but they will survive. Friedman is trying to find pitching depth while the Dodger bullpen gets healthy.
