MILWAUKEE (AP) 鈥� The Los Angeles Dodgers鈥� star-studded rotation is missing a couple of key pitchers, with two-time Cy Young Award winner and on the injured list.
Los Angeles鈥� bullpen has picked up the slack by producing a record run of effectiveness even while dealing with its own injury issues.
Dodgers relievers have thrown 36 straight shutout innings. That represents the longest such streak for any bullpen in the franchise鈥檚 storied history since at least 1901. According to Sportradar, the last time any major league bullpen had this long a streak was in September 2017, when Cleveland relievers threw 39 straight scoreless innings.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e on a heater,鈥� Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Los Angeles relievers threw four more shutout innings in an over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those things: When it doesn鈥檛 go well, they get the blame. And when it does go well, they don鈥檛 get a lot of the credit. But they are getting the credit now, and it鈥檚 earned.鈥�
This bullpen is dominating even without Edwin D铆az, the three-time All-Star closer who in December on a three-year, $69 million contract. D铆az hasn鈥檛 pitched since in late April, and he isn鈥檛 expected to return until after the All-Star break.
His absence hasn鈥檛 mattered lately.
Los Angeles鈥� bullpen hasn鈥檛 allowed a run in its last 10 games. The last time anyone scored against a Dodgers reliever was in a to the San Francisco Giants on May 12.
Before this stretch, the longest streak of consecutive scoreless innings by Dodgers relievers in baseball’s modern era was a 33-inning run in April 1998.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got really good arms and anyone can pitch in any situation,鈥� said Tanner Scott, whose four saves match D铆az for the team lead. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 huge.鈥�
The ability of these relievers to thrive in different roles was evident Saturday as Alex Vesia, Kyle Hurt, Scott and Jonathan Hern谩ndez allowed only one hit and three walks over the last four innings.
Scott worked the eighth rather than the ninth to face the middle of Milwaukee鈥檚 batting order, and he responded with three strikeouts. Vesia entered earlier than usual and recorded consecutive strikeouts of Gary S谩nchez and Jake Bauers in the sixth.
Roberts said the relievers鈥� willingness to adapt results from the culture instilled by bullpen coach Josh Bard and assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness, among others.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 like excuses,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淲hen your number鈥檚 called, you鈥檝e got to be ready.鈥�
That attitude carries over from the tested veterans to the younger pitchers in Los Angeles鈥� bullpen.
For instance, Hurt had only four games of major league experience before this season. The 27-year-old right-hander allowed a run in his season debut April 15 but has thrown 14 straight scoreless innings since.
鈥淚 just feel extremely confident out there right now,鈥� Hurt said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 kind of all I can lean on. We鈥檙e all big leaguers. We鈥檙e all here for a reason. I鈥檓 just trusting myself.鈥�
This bullpen has the Dodgers鈥� trust as the NL West leaders chase a third straight
鈥淭he biggest thing is they鈥檙e attacking the hitters,鈥� said outfielder Teoscar Hern谩ndez, who had a homer and six RBIs on Saturday. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e pounding the strike zone. When they need a pitch for a double play, they execute it really well.
鈥淚n 鈥�24, they helped us a lot, 鈥�25, too. This year鈥檚 not going to be different. They鈥檙e built for this and they鈥檙e ready for it.鈥�
___
AP MLB:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
