The Dodgers have once again suffered a defeat in conditions that continue to worry both specialists and their own fans
With a score of 5-1, the Giants defeated a lackluster Dodgers team and Dave Roberts was singled out as the main culprit.
Los Angeles celebrated the stellar performance of their star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. However, his effort was diluted amid the problems the team is experiencing in the bullpen.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto shines despite Dodgers defeat
The most recent example came in the game against the San Francisco Giants, where Yamamoto faced a difficult start by allowing a run in the first inning. From then on, he transformed into a wall, as he retired 20 consecutive batters and finished with a line of seven innings, just one hit allowed and 10 strikeouts. An authentic pitching recital.
The bullpen fails again for the Los Angeles Dodgers
When the game seemed to be heading for a memorable night, the outcome was once again bitter. With the score tied 1-1 in the 10th inning, manager Dave Roberts relied on Tanner Scott, a reliever who arrived with a millionaire reinforcement tag after signing for $72 million.
The move didn’t go well: Scott allowed a grand slam to Patrick Bailey, sealing the 5-1 defeat for the Dodgers.
Scott himself acknowledged his bad moment: “It’s terrible. I’m having the worst year of my life. I have to be better”. With nine saves wasted so far this season, the frustration in the Angels’ locker room is evident.
Criticism of Dave Roberts continues
Roberts’ decisions did not take long to ignite controversy. Analyst Pete Fox of the Locked On Dodgers podcast noted: “That ball didn’t do anything. It was like a practice pitch, and Bailey was ready to take advantage of it.”
Fox questioned why Roberts did not choose other arms such as Alex Vesia or Anthony Banda, who have shown greater effectiveness in similar situations. “I don’t understand that decision at all,” he insisted.
An October full of questions for the Dodgers
Yamamoto’s consistency shines through, but it also exposes the Dodgers’ weaknesses. The bullpen currently ranks 19th in Major League Baseball in ERA, a worrying statistic for a team with World Series aspirations.
With a narrow lead over the Padres in the National League West, every decision counts and if Roberts fails to stabilize his pitching staff, Yamamoto’s talent could continue to be overshadowed.
The truth is that in the postseason there is no room for maneuver, no room for experimentation and much less time for mistakes, that’s right, and the Dodgers know this better than anyone.
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