The Cincinnati Reds fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-5 in Game 1 of their National League Wild Card Series. While Shohei Ohtani delivered a dominant offensive performance for the Dodgers, the team’s weaknesses remain evident, particularly in their bullpen.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts has been experimenting with different bullpen options as the postseason approaches, including trying out rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki in a relief role. Although the Dodgers secured the Game 1 victory, Roberts chose not to use his top relievers, instead bringing in Blake Treinen to close out the ninth inning and preserve arms like Sasaki and Tanner Scott for future games.
Despite the loss, Reds outfielder Gavin Lux remained optimistic. Having spent several seasons under Roberts’ management during his time with the Dodgers, Lux entered the series confident in Cincinnati’s ability to compete.
Cincinnati clinched its postseason berth in dramatic fashion, edging out the New York Mets to claim a spot in the playoffs. Now, the Reds face the challenge of taking down a giant in Los Angeles.
Speaking to Reds reporter Charlie Goldsmith ahead of Wednesday’s Game 2, Lux emphasized the importance of attacking the Dodgers’ bullpen early. “That’s a bullpen that’s been struggling a little bit,” he said. “We came back and made it interesting and got into the bullpen. Looking at their starting pitching, it’s tough. The sooner you can get into the bullpen, the better. Not taking too many pitches but having a game plan and being stubborn with that.”
Roberts gave his rookie pitcher Sasaki an opportunity to appear as a reliever before the regular season ended to assess his potential in that role. One Major League Baseball insider even believes Sasaki should be considered for the closer position moving forward.
For the Reds, a win in Wednesday’s Game 2 is crucial to force a decisive Game 3 on Thursday. If Lux’s assessment holds true, Cincinnati will need to keep the game close through the early innings to have a chance at taking advantage of the Dodgers’ bullpen struggles later in the game.
https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/cincinnati-reds/reds-news-gavin-lux-gives-indictment-dodgers-bullpen-before-game-2