The Dodgers’ bullpen got an unexpected, and badly needed, reprieve Tuesday night.
Entering the day, no team had relied upon its relievers more heavily. Thanks to injuries and ineffectiveness from the starting rotation, the bullpen’s 126 innings were far and away the most in the majors.
Now, they were staring down a second designated bullpen game already in this opening month.
Only this time, they were able to stay away from their most important arms.
Instead, in a 15-2 win over the Miami Marlins, the Dodgers’ planned bullpen game transformed into a bulk effort — with minor-league call-up Matt Sauer providing an all-important five-inning effort that saved the bullpen in a way the Dodgers’ rotation has too often failed to so far this year.