Everybody who follows the Dodgers is aware of the bullpen has been an issue within the 2023 season. Saturday’s 8-to-3 loss in opposition to the Padres highlighted the issue once more when Yency Almonte and Caleb Ferguson allowed seven runs within the eighth inning.
This season, Almonte has struggled with a 5.36 ERA in 45.1 innings.
In fact, after Saturday’s debacle, the media requested Dave Roberts concerning the Dodger bullpen hierarchy and why he used Almonte to begin the eighth inning.
“It’s fairly straightforward in my chair. You give guys alternatives, they usually play themselves into their very own roles. I’ll depart it at that,” Roberts mentioned.
For Dave Roberts, that’s as shut as you get to fully throwing a participant beneath the bus. It’s price noting that LA’s protection didn’t assist the state of affairs in that eighth inning debacle.
Nonetheless, since struggling by elbow soreness in August 2022, the reliever hasn’t been the identical. He has struggled along with his management, and his slider hasn’t had the identical sharp break. Whereas he had a good June with a 2.31 ERA, he has toiled since. He might need benefited from going to AAA like Alex Vesia. Nevertheless, he may have one other journey to the IL to get wholesome.
It’s price noting that the function of Caleb Ferguson must also be questioned. He relieved Almonte on Saturday and allowed three hits and was charged with just one earned run. Over the past 7 days, Ferguson has an 11.57 ERA.
Each Almonte and Ferguson ought to be unavailable on Sunday. Roberts is correct often bullpen roles work out on their very own, and the supervisor follows the standard highway map by video games. When relievers carry out, the supervisor appears to be like good, however when relievers battle, the supervisor appears to be like like an fool.
After Saturday’s recreation, Roberts ended up on the improper aspect of that equation.
