Dodgers News: No Bullpen Changes Coming Yet

The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen did not have a good series over the weekend in San Francisco. After having a pretty good start to the season in San Diego, they were torched for 12 runs by the Giants offense, and the bullpen was one of the major reasons the Dodgers didn’t walk out of that series ahead of the Giants in the standings.

However, the problems with the bullpen over the weekend have left some people, especially a lot of fans in Los Angeles, wondering if there will be changes coming soon. They blame the bullpen for a lot of things but, while it was certainly not good, manager Dave Roberts still thinks it’ll all work out.

From Andy McCullough, contact reporter for the Los Angeles Times:

“I think the ‘pen’s going to be fine,” Roberts said. “We can’t always be hitting on all cylinders.” He added, “No concern.”

Some people will find this hard to believe that a manager isn’t overly concerned with his bullpen after just one bad series, but Dave Roberts certainly doesn’t exude the aura of a man who is vexed by what he’s seen thus far. He still believes in the bullpen, and you can understand why.

Last season, the Dodgers bullpen ranked fifth in reliever FIP and second in strikeouts per nine innings. The numbers were there for the bullpen to be solid to good, but they simply weren’t. They ranked 19th in ERA. The hope is that they sort it out as the season goes along, and there’s nothing to suggest, so far, that they won’t.

In total, the bullpen had one great series — where they pitched eight innings, gave up just four hits, and struck out ten batters — and one bad series — where they pitched 10.2 innings, gave up 17 hits, allowed 12 runs, walked five batters, and only struck out nine. One great, one bad. Let it play out a little more.