The Dodgers beat the Mets in Game 6 of the NLCS using seven different pitchers, none of whom pitched more than two innings — and the only pitcher to retire more than four batters was the closer, Blake Treinen, who tossed the final two innings to get Los Angeles into the World Series.
Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake watched that game and admired what the Dodgers pitching staff accomplished, but wouldn’t recommend too many teams try it — especially in the playoffs.
“They’re using their roster to the best of their ability and they’ve got some really good relievers,’’ Blake said. “If that’s a strength, then lean on it like Cleveland did and don’t try to be something you’re not and force a starter out there. But a lot of things have to go right in a bullpen game. It only takes one guy to go sideways to throw your matchups out of whack.”
The Yankees have four starters lined up for the World Series starting with Gerrit Cole for Game 1 in Los Angeles on Friday.
Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil can go in Games 2-4, which should keep the bullpen as rested as it can be this time of year.
Los Angeles went with just three regular starting pitchers in the NLCS: Jack Flaherty, who will start Game 1 of the World Series, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler.
It’s not by choice, as the Dodgers have dealt with injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin, among others.
With the way the World Series schedule is set up, a team either needs a fourth starter, has to be willing to bring their Game 1 starter back on short rest, or use a bullpen game.
“We take a lot of pride in having guys to go out there,’’ Schmidt said of the Yankees playoff rotation. “At a time when the game might be moving — even playoff scenarios — to more bullpen games, we have a staff where we’re comfortable every time a guy goes out there.”
“Running out a bunch of bullpen arms, then you get to Game 4, get to Game 5, get to Game 6 or whatever it is and the lineups have seen those guys three days in a row or four times in four at-bats, that changes a lot’’ Carlos Rodon said. “You see some arms are not quite throwing the velocity they normally have because they’ve been used so much — which I get, because it’s the postseason, you’ve got to get those arms in the game, they’re your A-1 arms. But I think there’s a value in the starter going three times through the lineup in the postseason. … I think it’s pretty precious to have good starters.”
The results have been good for the Yankees and the teams will be tested even more in the World Series.
So far this postseason, no bullpen has thrown more innings than the Dodgers, who are at 57, according to Fangraphs.
The Yankees enter the World Series having used their pen for 38 ²/₃⅔innings.
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“You hope to shave off as many outs as you can before you go to the bullpen because every batter matters, as we saw in the last round,’’ Blake said. “Everyone is on fumes at the end and it can come down to who’s got a little more left in the tank.”
