"There has been no more uncertainty with the defending champions than with their bullpen, which has been their glaring hole throughout the 2025 season. The Dodgers showed their weakness in the Wild Card Series with the bullpen highlighting its struggles in late-game situations. In Wednesday's 8-4 victory, the Dodgers deployed four relievers out of the bullpen despite Yoshinobu Yamamoto nearly completing the seventh inning."
"Emmet Sheehan could not get through the eighth inning as he gave up two earned runs on 27 pitches. Alex Vesia was then tasked with finishing the frame and got out of a bases-loaded jam. Then, came the Dodgers' secret weapon to close out the ninth: Roki Sasaki. The right-hander recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning. "I trust him, and he's going to be pitching in leverage," Roberts said."
The Dodgers entered the postseason with a clear bullpen weakness that persisted through the 2025 season and showed up during the Wild Card Series. Emmet Sheehan failed to complete the eighth inning, allowing two earned runs on 27 pitches, and Alex Vesia escaped a bases-loaded jam. The team used four relievers in a single late game despite Yoshinobu Yamamoto nearly finishing the seventh. Roki Sasaki provided a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts and emerges as a viable option for closing and other high-leverage situations. Additional reliable relievers remain necessary for sustained postseason success.
Read at Dodgers Nation
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