Dodgers bullpen producing record streak of scoreless innings even without injured closer Edwin Díaz
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ star-studded rotation is missing a couple of key pitchers, with two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow on the injured list. Los Angeles’ bullpen has picked up the slack by producing a record run of effectiveness even while dealing with its own injury issues. Dodgers relievers have thrown 36 straight shutout innings.
That represents the longest such streak for any bullpen in the franchise’s storied history since at least 1901. According to Sportradar, the last time any major league bullpen had this long a streak was in September 2017, when Cleveland relievers threw 39 straight scoreless innings. “They’re on a heater,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Los Angeles relievers threw four more shutout innings in an 11-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night.
“It’s one of those things: When it doesn’t go well, they get the blame. And when it does go well, they don’t get a lot of the credit. But they are getting the credit now, and it’s earned.
” This bullpen is dominating even without Edwin Díaz, the three-time All-Star closer who joined the Dodgers in December on a three-year, $69 million contract. Díaz hasn’t pitched since undergoing elbow surgery in late April, and he isn’t expected to return until after the All-Star break. His absence hasn’t mattered lately.
Los Angeles’ bullpen hasn’t allowed a run in its last 10 games. The last time anyone scored against a Dodgers reliever was in a 6-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants on May 12. Before this stretch, the longest streak of consecutive scoreless innings by Dodgers relievers in baseball's modern era was a 33-inning run in April 1998.