Dodgers Team News

Dodgers Win Bullpen of the Week Honors

After a solid week going 5-2, the Dodgers were rewarded with the Bullpen of the Week Award. This award dates back to 2016 and this is the seventh time the franchise has won the award. This is the first time this year that the Dodgers bullpen has won the award.

Bill James created this award based on a metrics-based formula:



  • Add 1.5 points for each out recorded
  • Add 1.5 points for each strikeout
  • Add 5 points for a save
  • Subtract 2 points for each hit allowed
  • Subtract 4 points for each earned run allowed
  • Subtract 2 points for each unearned run allowed
  • Subtract 1 point for each walk
  • Subtract 5 points for a blown save

This past week the Dodgers bullpen recorded a score of 112.5, which beat out the Chicago Cubs score of 111 and the Washington Nationals score of 97.

The bullpen worked 37 innings while striking out 42. They picked up the win in all three games in Colorado as they pitched 18.2 innings during that series. Although they had an ERA of 3.16, Dave Roberts called on the bullpen to put in extra work this week. They pitched less than four innings only once this week. They worked at least seven innings three times due to separate  instances: an injury to Kenta Maeda, a lack of available starters and a poor outing by Alex Wood.

 

Analysis

Even with their high usage, the Dodger bullpen came through to keep the team in the game. From middle relievers such as Erik Goeddel and Yimi Garcia to the back end with Tony Cingrani and Kenley Jansen, the bullpen led the Dodgers through the week.

Ultimately, Dodgers success depends on the bullpen. The lights out bullpen last season carried the team through the postseason and with the rotation banged-up, they will have to perform again this year. Although the bullpen struggled early in the season, they have improved in recent weeks. Once again, the bullpen will be put to the test this week as they face the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves, who have two and six walk off wins, respectively.

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Arthur Cribbs

Arthur Cribbs is a journalism student at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He is a lifelong Dodgers fan and when he is not at school, he resides in Los Angeles.

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