Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates with teammate Stephen Piscotty #25 after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Edwin Rios #43 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks toward the sky after hitting a game tying solo home run against the Oakland Athletics in the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Edwin Rios #43 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammates Justin Turner and Mookie Betts #50 along with manager Dave Roberts after hitting a game tying solo home run against the Oakland Athletics in the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is thrown out at first base by Jonah Heim (not pictured) of the Oakland Athletics in the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers shakes hands with third base coach Dino Ebel after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives manager Dave Roberts, center, after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics makes a diving catch on a drive by Mookie Betts (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Julio Urias #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after giving up a run against the Oakland Athletics in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Julio Urias #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the Oakland Athletics in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Julio Urias of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the Oakland Athletics in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Julio Urias #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the Oakland Athletics in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Julio Urias #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the Oakland Athletics in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Tommy La Stella #3 of the Oakland Athletics forces out Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at second base in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers fist pumps third base coach Dino Abel after hitting a two run home run against the Oakland Athletics in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers security sits by himself in the third inning of a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammate Cody Bellinger #35 after hitting a two run home run against the Oakland Athletics in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on against the Oakland Athletics in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks back to the dugout after striking out against the Oakland Athletics in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers singles against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers can???t beat out the throw at first base against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on as Chris Taylor #3 bats against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers can???t beat out the throw at first base against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jake Lamb #4 of the Oakland Athletics dives for the base hit by Justin Turner (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers singles against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Joe Kelly #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against he Oakland Athletics in the in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Sean Manaea #55 of the Oakland Athletics throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Joe Kelly #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks down after giving up 3 runs against he Oakland Athletics in the in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Joe Kelly #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against he Oakland Athletics in the in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — Maybe they’re on to something. Or maybe they’re just overthinking a pitching decision on the eve of another postseason.
Pitching in a “bulk innings” role — and avoiding the first inning that has given him trouble this season — Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced and allowed just one run on two hits in his six innings (starting in the third).
But there are still some rough edges to this strategy. Joe Kelly was one, allowing three runs as the first-inning “opener.” Blake Treinen was the other, allowing a two-run home run to Ramon Laureano in the ninth inning that gave the Oakland A’s a 6-4 victory over the Dodgers Wednesday night.
“I thought this one was one of the best outings he’s had as far as the entire pitch mix. I just really liked it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “There was a lot of good to take away from tonight with Julio.”
Urias was scheduled to start the game. But some time after the division was clinched Tuesday night, the Dodgers decided it was time to find out how Urias would look pitching out of the bullpen in the playoffs — a role he is familiar with, though not in bulk. Urias made 11 relief appearances during the Dodgers’ playoff runs in 2016, 2018 and last year, pitching a total of 12 innings.
“To give Julio an opportunity to potentially pitch out of the ‘pen and to kind of feel it more recently is a good way to prepare,” Roberts said of the decision Wednesday afternoon. “We understand Clayton (Kershaw) and Walker (Buehler) are going to go (Games) 1 and 2 (in next week’s Wild Card Series). We haven’t decided which one. But we haven’t made up our minds with Game 3.”
The Dodgers might not know their first-round opponent until the last minute — or beyond. A Monday makeup doubleheader involving the St. Louis Cardinals could be necessary to settle the NL playoff field and the Dodgers are “keeping our options open” in the meantime, Roberts said.
The other Game 3 candidates — young right-handers Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May — have already done their bulk relief compulsories with less appealing results than Urias turned in.
Gonsolin followed May out of the bullpen during the Sept. 10 game that saw May take a comebacker off the left foot and leave after one inning. Gonsolin went five innings, allowing three runs and six hits, both season-highs.
Roberts said Gonsolin might get another look in the role Saturday.
May did his bulk chores against the Padres last week. He went 5 1/3 innings in relief on his start day. The first four were scoreless but he gave up three runs on two home runs in a four-batter span.
“I’m getting more comfortable (with the idea of a bullpenning game in the playoffs),” Roberts said. “I think that the main thing is that our players have received it well and understand that we’re trying to put them, as well as us, in the best position to win a baseball game.”
Roberts might be feeling less comfortable with his standard bullpen occupants.
Possessing a 97-mph fastball, Kelly has become a curveball pitcher. He has thrown it roughly 60 percent of the time in his nine innings of work this season — including 33 of 44 pitches since returning from his five-game suspension and the first five Wednesday. Tommy LaStella and Robbie Grossman hit doubles on two of those first five and the A’s came away with a 3-0 lead after the first inning.
“It’s an elite pitch when it’s right. But certainly when a major-league hitter knows it’s coming … the margin gets a little smaller,” Roberts said of Kelly’s apparent love affair with his curveball. “You’ve got to continue to sequence. But Joe is fastball-curveball-change. It’s probably something he’s working on. But as we close out the season, I think it’ll be a little bit of a different percentage.”
Three home runs by left-handed Dodger hitters (Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger and Edwin Rios) off left-handed A’s pitchers (Sean Manaea and Jake Diekman) overcame that and tied the game, 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth before Treinen served it up to Laureano in the ninth.
It was the first home run allowed by Treinen this season. But he has allowed nine runs on 12 hits over his past 6 1/3 innings.
“I think on the surface if you look at the runs it doesn’t look great,” Roberts said. “Blake is a little frustrated and rightfully so. But I still think there’s a lot of soft contact in there. Obviously we love the swing and miss.
“For me, we’re going to continue to run him out there and I believe he’s going to keep putting up zeroes.”
