Dave Roberts plans to lean on situational flexibility, leveraging a deep Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen headlined by Tanner Scott.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are eyeing a historic three-peat, and it's going to take an incredible pitching staff to do so.
This team's offense is what it is, but there are still questions regarding the bullpen, specifically at the end of games.
Manager Dave Roberts recently had a chance to speak with the media, and according to Dodgers Nation, he's confident in four different players to close out games this October.
Tanner Scott, Roki Sasaki, Evan Phillips, and Edwin Diaz were all named by one of the best skippers the league has ever seen, but ultimately it will come down to what Roberts is feeling in each given situation, along with how each reliever has performed up to that point.
Dodgers can afford to be flexible
At this point in the year, all bets are off. Starting pitchers come in as relievers, closers are asked to open games, simply put, everything is on the table.
Going into the National League Division Series, Roberts said it's "easy to see" Scott finishing games.
He then added that will vary by game, and if an opportunity presents itself to use Scott in the eighth inning, that's exactly what this team will do.
The Dodgers are the back-to-back World Series Champions for a reason, and it's partly due to the brilliant mind that Roberts has.
He said he feels "very comfortable" with Sasaki, Phillips, and Diaz closing out games.
Diaz's struggles have been well-documented, though injuries may have played a huge part in all of that.
Phillips has just one save this season, but that doesn't mean the 32-year-old isn't built for the bright lights.
Finally, Sasaki will remain a mainstay of this team's bullpen in a similar role to what he did a year ago with his three postseason saves and two holds in nine appearances.
Is Scott the obvious choice?
On paper, if everything goes according to plan, there's no reason for the Dodgers not to use Scott in the ninth inning.
This is a guy who was tied for 14th in the league with his 25 saves, and he has a WHIP under 1.00 (0.99) which is incredibly impressive.
Regardless, Scott has picked up a save in his last three appearances. He's coming into the NLDS well-rested, and that's even with him earning a pair of saves at the end of the Dodgers regular season.
Keep in mind, Scott's last four appearances were all against the sub-par San Francisco Giants, and he did blow a pair of saves in the month of September.
