The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 MLB playoffs with one glaring concern: their bullpen. For months, analysts warned that the Dodgers bullpen 2025 could be their undoing, and through two tense games against the Cincinnati Reds, those fears came to life. Still, amid the chaos, one 23-year-old rookie, Roki Sasaki, delivered a performance that could change the postseason narrative for Los Angeles.
Dodgers bullpen 2025 proves critics right in wild-card round
Heading into October, no one expected the Dodgers bullpen 2025 to dominate. Injuries, inconsistency, and declining velocity from once-reliable arms had fans worried. Those doubts were confirmed when the bullpen nearly unraveled both wild-card games against Cincinnati.
In Game 1, Blake Snell exited after seven strong innings with a commanding 10–2 lead. What followed was a meltdown. Alex Vesia, Edgardo Henriquez, and Jack Dreyer combined for four walks, two hits, and three runs in the eighth inning. Their 59-pitch struggle marked the most pitches thrown in a single postseason inning since pitch counts began being tracked, according to MLB historical data.
Game 2 was no better. Yoshinobu Yamamoto had cruised through 6 2/3 innings, but Emmet Sheehan and Vesia again cracked under pressure. They allowed two hits, three walks, and two runs, forcing Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to make the rare move of pulling Sheehan mid-at-bat. Vesia cleaned up the mess with one pitch, but the damage to confidence lingered.
The Dodgers bullpen 2025 escaped largely because Cincinnati’s offense ranked near the bottom of playoff teams in weighted on-base average (wOBA). That luxury ends in the NLDS, where the Philadelphia Phillies’ powerful lineup awaits.
Roki Sasaki emerges as Dodgers’ unexpected weapon
Lost in the bullpen struggles was the brilliance of Roki Sasaki. The rookie reliever shut the door in Game 2 with a clean ninth inning, recording two strikeouts and flashing a 99–100 mph fastball. He looked unfazed by the playoff spotlight, earning praise as the most reliable reliever the Dodgers used all series.
This was not the expected storyline for Sasaki. Signed with great fanfare, the Japanese phenom was touted as a rotation cornerstone alongside Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani. But a velocity dip in 2024, followed by a 2025 shoulder impingement, derailed those plans. He posted a 4.72 ERA and 6.19 FIP in eight starts before landing on the injured list for nearly five months.
By the time he returned, the Dodgers’ six-man rotation left no space for him. Transitioning to the bullpen became the only option. What looked like a setback has quickly turned into a revelation.
Dodgers bullpen 2025: only two relievers inspire trust
Beyond Sasaki, only one other Dodgers reliever inspired any confidence in the wild-card round: veteran Blake Treinen. After a brutal September in which he lost five straight decisions, a rare and ignominious MLB feat, Treinen rebounded with clean outings in both games.
That leaves the Dodgers bullpen 2025 top-heavy: Sasaki, Treinen, and a handful of shaky arms. For a team with championship aspirations, that balance is troubling. Unless Roberts leans heavily on starters like Ohtani and Yamamoto to go deeper into games, Los Angeles risks losing winnable contests late.
Phillies present the real test
The Dodgers were able to survive against the Reds despite bullpen instability. Against the Phillies, who finished top-three in the National League in home runs and OPS, those same cracks could become fatal.
Philadelphia’s lineup, led by Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner, thrives on punishing mistakes from relievers. If the Dodgers bullpen 2025 walks hitters or loses command late, the Phillies will not waste opportunities the way Cincinnati did.
Sasaki’s bullpen reinvention: why it works
What makes Sasaki’s relief version so effective? First, his velocity is back. As a starter, his fastball dipped below expectations in 2024 and early 2025. Now, in shorter bursts, he sustains 99–100 mph. Hitters swung six times against it in the wild-card round, missing three.
Second, his splitter is lethal. Once hyped as one of the best splitters in the world, it is now living up to expectations. Opponents swung at six splitters and whiffed four times. Roberts and the Dodgers coaching staff have also simplified Sasaki’s arsenal, ditching the slider entirely to let his two elite pitches dominate.
The result: a weapon the Dodgers bullpen 2025 desperately needed.
What’s next for the Dodgers bullpen 2025?
The Dodgers’ postseason survival hinges on two factors: how deep their starters can go, and whether Sasaki and Treinen can stabilize the late innings. If those two carry the bullpen, Los Angeles has the lineup and rotation to make a deep run.
Still, the numbers don’t lie. Across two games, Dodgers relievers allowed 10 walks in just four innings of critical late-game work. That lack of command could prove disastrous against a Phillies team built to capitalize on every free base.
For now, the storyline is clear. The Dodgers bullpen 2025 remains the franchise’s greatest liability, but the emergence of Roki Sasaki offers a ray of hope. If the rookie continues to dominate, his rise could become the defining story of the Dodgers’ October.
Conclusion: Dodgers bullpen 2025 walks a fine line
The Dodgers bullpen 2025 has confirmed every pre-playoff fear. Command issues, overworked arms, and underwhelming veterans have forced Roberts into difficult decisions. Yet within the mess, Sasaki’s sudden emergence may be the silver lining Los Angeles needs.
The upcoming series against Philadelphia will answer the question: can one rookie and one veteran steady a bullpen on the brink, or will the Dodgers’ October dreams collapse under the weight of their weakest link?
References
- Source: MLB.com
- Source: Baseball Reference
- Source: ESPN MLB
- Source: CBS Sports
- Source: Yahoo Sports
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational and news purposes only. It is based on available reports and data at the time of publication. It does not represent betting, financial, or professional advice. Readers are encouraged to follow official MLB sources for updates on the 2025 postseason.
