Dodgers fret over bullpen woes getting into Game 2 vs. Reds

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers showed plenty of familiar traits while opening their title defense on Tuesday, and it was not necessarily a good thing.

The Dodgers will head into Game 2 of their National League wild-card series against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday with a chance to advance to the divisional round while surrounded by mixed messages.

The offense that came alive in September was in peak form during a 10-5 victory in Game 1 against the Reds as Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez each hit two home runs. Los Angeles socked five long balls in total to match the franchise’s postseason record.

And yet groans of frustration could be heard as a ragged Los Angeles bullpen continued to struggle. Three relievers pitched the eighth inning, allowing three runs and issuing four walks, two with the bases loaded. The trio combined to throw 59 pitches just to get three outs.

The Dodgers’ relief corps finished 11th out of the 15 NL teams with a 4.27 ERA, and it only got worse as October drew near.

“Those (relievers) were on their heels with the lead they had, and when you start being too fine and getting behind, you start giving them free bases,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “That’s how (an opponent) can build innings and get momentum.”

The Reds trailed 8-0 before scoring a combined five runs in the seventh and eighth innings to at least feel good about their prospects in Game 2.

“It’s a big deficit,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said. “That’s a lot to ask, but they kept playing, and that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

The Dodgers’ top starter will take the mound for Game 2. Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA in 30 regular-season starts, and he came within one out of throwing a no-hitter on Sept. 6 at Baltimore.

Yamamoto was one of just three healthy starters for Los Angeles in last season’s playoffs, and he stepped up by going 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts. He gave up one run over 6 1/3 innings in a Game 2 World Series win over the New York Yankees.

“Having the last year’s postseason under my belt, I think I’m calmer this year and had good preparation going into the postseason this year,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “I feel more confident.”

In a July 28 start at Cincinnati, Yamamoto gave up one run on four hits over seven innings while earning a 5-2 win. He struck out nine and walked two. For his career, he is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against the Reds.

Cincinnati will counter with right-hander Zack Littell, who went 10-8 with a 3.81 ERA in 32 combined starts with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Reds this year. Littell was acquired at the trade deadline, and he compiled a 2-0 record with a 4.39 ERA in 10 starts for Cincinnati.

“Obviously this is a moment that you dream of as a kid just to get to a playoff baseball game,” said Littell, who has made five career playoff appearances, all in relief. “To come over here, help these guys, make this push and get here, hopefully continue to help them moving forward, it’s been awesome.”

Littell is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 14 career regular-season appearances against the Dodgers, but they all were in relief. He faced them 11 times in 2021 with the San Francisco Giants and had a 1.54 ERA, then gave up three runs in two playoff outings (2 2/3 innings) vs. Los Angeles that year.

With their big lead in Game 1, the Dodgers made a pair of precautionary moves, taking out left fielder Enrique Hernandez (back) and second baseman Tommy Edman (ankle), but both are expected to play in Game 2.

–Doug Padilla, Field Level Media