Bullpen saved: Dodgers keep Jansen and Co. fresh for Game 2

Winning Game 1 was a sweet way to start the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The cherry on top: all the big arms left on ice.

Kenley Jansen, Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol should be fresh for Wednesday after watching the Dodgers’ 8-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1. Clayton Kershaw provided six tidy innings, and Los Angeles closed it out without exhausting the back of its bullpen.

The pitching-weary Dodgers couldn’t have scripted a better start. They pushed their top arms hard in the NL Championship Series, which came down to a Game 7 on Sunday. Starting pitchers Walker Buehler, Julio Urías, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May each took the mound during an all-hands-on-deck effort to close out the series over the weekend.

Aces of Octobers past — like Bob Gibson or Tom Seaver — might have rushed back on short rest for the World Series. Manager Dave Roberts is being more cautious with his No. 1 starter, keeping Buehler on regular rest for Game 3.

That leaves a hole for Game 2, where nobody figures to be fresh enough for a starter’s workload.

The Dodgers announced after Game 1 that Gonsolin would pitch first, but the right-hander should be on a short leash after throwing 41 pitches Sunday. A 26-year-old NL Rookie of the Year contender, Gonsolin’s best pitch is a hard-diving splitter that’s equally effective against righties and lefties — advantageous against the Rays’ balanced lineup.

“We just like him in this spot,” Roberts said.

May could cover multiple innings after throwing just 18 pitches Sunday. Roberts said Urías also would be available, although LA would surely like to save him for a potential start in Game 4.

With a day off Thursday, everyone else will be available. The biggest spots will undoubtedly go to Jansen, Treinen...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Bullpen-saved-Dodgers-keep-Jansen-and-Co-fresh-15663236.php