Dodgers' bullpen hits another snag with 4th straight implosion
The Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen is in dire straits.
After losing three consecutive one-run games - including a pair of walk-offs - to the Colorado Rockies, the Dodgers saw another lead evaporate once their starter exited. Up 2-1 in the ninth inning on Monday night, left-hander Scott Alexander gave up four runs (three earned), allowing the San Francisco Giants to complete their comeback.
"I think any game’s hard to lose, but losing games like we have lately, it’s tough to swallow for sure," catcher Austin Barnes said, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the Orange County Register. "You just have to turn the page and keep going tomorrow, try to win a ballgame tomorrow."
After ace Clayton Kershaw allowed one run over eight innings, the Kenley Jansen-less bullpen failed to preserve his strong outing. Kershaw propped up his relief corps after the game.
"We're going to have to count on these guys and Scotty has been great all year," Kershaw said, according to MLB.com's Doug Padilla. "Kenley has big shoes to fill. We know that. These guys are a very talented group, guys who we trust and guys that have our backs all season."
Even after his blown save, Alexander holds a decent 3.88 ERA over 53 1/3 innings. With Jansen expected to be out for at least a month due to an irregular heartbeat, the rest of the Dodgers' relievers will be counted on to pick up the slack, which might not be easy.
The Dodgers are expected to place John Axford on the disabled list with a slightly fractured fibula, and they're already missing Jansen, Daniel Hudson, Josh Fields, Yimi Garcia, and Tony Cingrani. If manager Dave Roberts is panicking, he's keeping it internal.
"Tomorrow is a new day and we'll be ready to go," he said.