Unable to win WS with 'pen game, Dodgers set up nicely going forward

NEW YORK -- The Dodgers came into the postseason knowing the risks and rewards that come with leaning on bullpen games.

Instead of forcing a fourth starter into the injury-riddled rotation, L.A. was willing to take the gamble of leaning heavily on its bullpen. When bullpen games go according to plan, as evidenced in Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Padres and Game 6 of the NL Championship Series against the Mets, they can be devastating to an opposing lineup.

The risk, however, is that when one pitcher fails to get through his lane, the entire plan falls apart.

That’s exactly what happened to the Dodgers on Tuesday as their latest attempt at a bullpen game failed from start to finish in the 11-4 loss to the Yankees in Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. Despite the loss and the missed opportunity to sweep, L.A. has a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Fall Classic.

“I don’t think anyone expected those guys to lay down,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “We had some at-bats that I thought could have been better, but we knew it was a bullpen game. As far as outcomes, to have six guys in your ’pen that are feeling good, rested, I feel good about that. And being up 3-1.”

Starting Ben Casparius was about the safest move of the night for Los Angeles. Despite his inexperience, the Dodgers were confident Casparius could give them a couple of innings. In a bullpen game, someone has to take down multiple innings, and the rookie right-hander did just that, allowing one run over two frames.

After Casparius, however, is when things went south for the Dodgers.

• Dodgers-Yankees World Series Game 5 FAQ

With a 2-1 lead on the strength of yet another Freddie Freeman home run, his fourth in as many games this World Series, the Dodgers decided to try and get Daniel Hudson through the top of the Yankees’ lineup. Hudson has struggled at times this season, and though he started his night by striking out Juan Soto, it became clear quickly that the veteran didn’t have his best stuff.

Hudson then hit Aaron Judge near his hands and allowed a single off the wall to Jazz Chisholm Jr. Then after almost hitting Giancarlo Stanton earlier in the count, Hudson walked the Yankees’ slugger to load up the bases. Even with those struggles, the Dodgers decided to not get any other reliever warmed up, giving the inning to Hudson, who retired Anthony Rizzo to come an out away from escaping the jam.

“I think that was his inning,” Roberts said. “I think he was at 20 pitches, something like that. He had [Anthony] Volpe up. I’m not going to go get somebody in the third inning to get Volpe where he just popped a guy up. Uncharacteristic with the hit-by-pitch, the walk. So, yeah, it was his inning.”

The first-pitch hanging slider to Volpe, which resulted in a grand slam and a 5-2 Yankees lead, ultimately turned out to be the decisive runs for the Yankees.

“It was a little bit of a self-made mess there for me in the third,” Hudson said. “Threw some good pitches to Juan to start the inning and it just kind of got away from me. … Then obviously just threw a really bad slider. [Volpe] put a good swing on it and got it up and out of here.”

Once the Dodgers fell behind, Roberts said he wasn’t going to turn to his high-leverage arms -- even when they cut the deficit to one in the fifth. Instead, the Dodgers stuck with Landon Knack, who pitched well, allowing one run over four innings.

“The big thing was just to save the dawgs out there,” Knack said of the self-proclaimed “Bullpen Dawgs.”

In the eighth, Brent Honeywell also saved the bullpen, but not for the reasons the Dodgers hoped. Coming into the frame, L.A. was down just two runs. Honeywell then allowed five runs, putting the game out of reach, and also allowing the Yankees to not have to use closer Luke Weaver for a third inning.

“We’re just trying to manage this whole series, keep guys fresh, keep guys healthy,” said Dodgers catcher Will Smith. “It’s been that way for a while.”

It’s been that way all postseason for the Dodgers, but perhaps for the last time. The strategy has worked for L.A., but it also comes at a cost. This was another game the Dodgers weren’t competitive for most of the night, in a game they came into knowing they would likely stay away from their high-leverage arms.

In the long run, the Dodgers hope those decisions pay dividends. They have Jack Flaherty starting in Game 5. They have all the high-leverage relievers ready when needed. If Flaherty struggles early, they can afford to be more aggressive.

Worst-case scenario, the Dodgers take a rested bullpen back to Los Angeles if the series gets to a Game 6. Pair that with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler ready to take down most of the innings, and the Dodgers remain confident in their plan.

But it came at the expense of dropping Game 4.

“I feel great,” Roberts said, when asked about the pitching moving forward. “It’s about the guys that you have available. Some of those guys, they’re all rested. So we have guys that can do [an] up-down. Where we’re at tomorrow, knowing there’s an off-day [on Thursday], we’re in a great spot with leverage relievers.”