The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to repeat as World Series champions in 2025. They will begin that quest in the wild card round against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Dodgers once again won the National League West division with a 93-69 record. They are a very good team, but the bullpen has been a major question mark all season long. The Dodgers had a 4.27 ERA out of the bullpen in the regular season. It is the second worst bullpen out of the teams who qualified for the playoffs. Will it come back to bite them?
MLB Insider Believes the Los Angeles Dodgers Bullpen Will Be the Reason Why It Doesn't Win World Series
There is a chance that the bullpen may not cost the Dodgers in the series against the Reds, but maybe the bad bullpen will come into play against the Philadelphia Phillies or elsewhere. Jorge Castillo of espn.com said about why this team won't win the World Series,
"If they go home early it will be because ... the bullpen sinks this behemoth. Six different Dodgers relievers finished September with an ERA north of 5.00. Their team bullpen ERA for the month that ranked 26th in baseball. Only three teams blew more saves. Tanner Scott's first season in Los Angeles was a colossal disappointment. Kirby Yates, their other major free agent bullpen addition, landed on the injured list again during the final week of the regular season."
It is hard for teams to win championships with a bad bullpen. It would not be a surprise to see the same problems occur for the Dodgers in the playoffs. The starting pitchers are going to have to give this team length in the playoffs in order for the bullpen to not be taxed out.
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