Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Doh! You love to win a game, but you hate to do it at the cost of one your best relievers. Alex Vesia, a crucial piece of the bullpen, is “highly unlikely” to be available for the series due to an “intercostal situation,” manager Dave Roberts confirmed. This development delivers a gut punch to the Dodgers’ pitching staff, but there’s no time to dwell on disappointment – the focus is on stepping up and finding a way forward.
The loss of Vesia is indeed a tough one. The left-hander has been nothing short of dominant this season, with a 1.76 ERA over 67 appearances, striking out 87 batters across 66 1/3 innings. What made him so invaluable to the Dodgers was his ability to shut down hitters from both sides of the plate, limiting right-handed batters to a .150 average and holding lefties to an even stingier .144.
“Losing Alex potentially is brutal. It sucks,” Roberts admitted to reporters at his Saturday presser. “He’s a big part of what we do. But we’re just going to have to find somebody else to step up.”
The Dodgers will need to adopt a “next man up” mentality if they hope to make a deep postseason run. Though the Mets’ lineup is packed with right-handed hitters, with the exception of switch-hitting star Francisco Lindor, Vesia’s absence will still be felt. The bullpen has been one of the team’s biggest strengths, closing out the Division Series against the Padres with 24 consecutive scoreless innings. That kind of reliability is hard to replicate.
However, the Dodgers have shown resilience all season long, and there are still plenty of options in the bullpen to fill the void. Rookie right-hander Edgardo Henriquez and fellow righty Ben Casparius are likely to return to the roster despite limited appearances in the NLDS. Brent Honeywell, who missed the previous series due to a right middle finger injury, is another top candidate to replace Vesia.
“He’s been staying sharp in the sense he’s been pitching to our hitters on off-days,” Roberts said about Honeywell. “He’s still got this finger thing, but he certainly is in the mix, too.”
In the absence of Vesia, other relievers will have to shoulder a heavier load. Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, and Evan Phillips remain the team’s top options for late-inning situations, while Daniel Hudson and Ryan Brasier add solid depth to the bullpen. On the left-handed side, Anthony Banda will need to step up and continue the strong performances that earned him a spot on the postseason roster. Banda has delivered when called upon this year, and now he’ll have to elevate his game even further in the high-stakes NLCS.
There is no denying the impact of losing a top-tier reliever, but the Dodgers’ bullpen has been a workhorse, particularly during the series against the Padres. Shutting down a tough San Diego lineup with 24 straight scoreless innings is no small feat. It showcased the bullpen’s ability to execute under pressure and adapt to different roles as needed. That kind of collective effort will be crucial against a confident Mets squad that features a rejuvenated Lindor and other dangerous hitters.
The road ahead won’t be easy, especially considering that the NLCS features three consecutive games in New York following Game 2 in Los Angeles. This stretch will test the bullpen’s endurance and versatility. In this context, multi-inning arms like Honeywell will become especially valuable, providing crucial relief if the Dodgers encounter a short start or extra-innings affair.
As the series begins, the Dodgers will need to channel their “us-against-the-world” mentality. There has been a prevailing feeling throughout the season that the team has been overlooked, a sentiment echoed by Max Muncy and other players. That chip on the shoulder has fueled their fight, and it will have to continue doing so against a Mets team riding a wave of confidence.
Roberts is embracing the role of underdog while remaining determined and focused on winning the series. “I do feel that our guys can feel the everyone picking everyone against us and us being sort of an afterthought,” Roberts said. “I think we have a pretty good ball club, and guys took it rightfully so personally.”
The Dodgers have faced plenty of adversity this season, from injuries to slumps and now a significant loss in the bullpen. Yet, there is an undeniable grit within this team – an ability to battle back and rise to the occasion. With a pitching staff that has shown it can shut down elite hitters and an offense that has the potential to break games open, Los Angeles is not backing down.
Tonight, as Game 1 kicks off at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers will be without Vesia, but they’ll bring everything else they’ve got. It’s a setback, no doubt, but this team has made a habit of overcoming challenges. Now, they’ll look to continue that trend and keep their World Series hopes alive.
Dodger fans, it’s time to rally behind this team. Yes, it’s a blow to lose a key player like Vesia, but it’s not the first time this team has been counted out, and it certainly won’t be the last. As Roberts said, “We have to come with the same intensity, focus, and energy that we had in the last series.” If the bullpen can maintain its dominance and the offense can capitalize on opportunities, this series could still be there for the taking.
