Reliever Blake Treinen was recently put on the injury list for the Los Angeles Dodgers, essentially ending his season altogether. The Dodgers are the favorites in the National League and are favorites to three-peat. However, does this injury throw a wrench into those expectations? Because of the number of reliever injuries already on the injury list this season.
Dodgers Will Have To Overcome More Bullpen Injuries
Key Relievers To Help Bullpen Depth
The Dodgers have enough bullpen depth for the team to absorb this injury; however, there have been some meltdowns at times from this group. Right-handed closer Edwin Diaz, a key reliever, was just activated from the injury list and will provide some innings. Diaz did struggle this season, but tightened up with a 0.00 ERA in September in five starts. Reliever Tanner Scott, another key reliever, looks to also pick up the slack in light of this injury that has happened.
The team’s bullpen is at a 3.71 ERA this season, according to ESPN; the bullpen’s earned run average can be lower because of some blow-up innings at times during the season. However, the team just got back a key reliever, Diaz, to give the team some more bullpen depth.
There were other injuries to note as well, but this injury to Treinen is a bit more significant as it can now test the Dodgers’ bullpen depth overall. However, the Dodgers have enough depth to absorb an injury, but a few more injuries can throw off the pecking order of this team.
Starters Might Need to be Shifted to the Bullpen
During the 2025 World Series run, the Dodgers had one of the worst bullpens in all of baseball. To cover that up, the team used starters to mask the weakness in the pen and give them a big jolt overall. Again, the team does have that luxury of moving starters to the bullpen, which most teams may not have.
The bullpen may be shaky most of the time, but the team seems to know how to get the key outs. Left-handed starter Blake Snell could see some time in a closer role in tight games. Right-handed starter Roki Sasaki could be asked as well to pitch high-stress innings. Sasaki has come out of the bullpen before, especially in the playoffs last year and the World Series.
Right-handed starter Tyler Glasnow may see some closer or relief-like roles as well in the postseason, but the team could be cautious with him because of shoulder injuries. Glasnow pitched out of the bullpen in the National League Division Series and in game seven of the World Series.
Bigger Roles in the Bullpen
There might need to be bigger roles when it comes to this team’s bullpen and how the team could assess this good problem to have, especially with all the depth they have that can be used in a pinch. Left-handed reliever Alex Vesia could be pushed into a bigger role because of this injury. Vesia is sitting at a 2.64 ERA.
Vesia could provide some big innings in some of these playoff games and he has come through in the past couple of seasons for the team. One other name to consider is right-handed pitcher Evan Phillips; Phillips recently returned from injury and has gotten himself back in the mix overall.
Again, this bullpen still has some depth all around; however, the injuries are starting to mount up as a key guy goes on the injury list, which will be key to having a strong bullpen for another World Series repeat and winning the National League.
Things could get dicey down the line in the playoffs, however, with the depleted bullpen depth the team has. The team’s depth could be tested at times if games were to reach extra innings in some games, but again, this should not be a huge problem. But something to watch for.
Overall Not A Big Concern
The Dodgers are set to face either the Philadelphia Phillies or the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series.
