Multiple Unknowns Face Dodgers Heading to the Bronx

Throughout the postseason, one mantra — courtesy of the late Kobe Bryant — has been posted all across the Dodgers’ clubhouse: “Job’s not finished.”

The Dodgers are two wins away from capturing their first World Series since 2020. Up 2-0 headed to the Bronx, LA could theoretically win the series here in New York without returning home. Walker Buehler will take the ball in Game 3. The most experienced starter on the staff, LA is hoping his fiery nature, coupled with recent form, can get the team in a position to steal this contest. With that said, there are also a few unknowns heading into the next couple of games.

Game 4 is being billed as a bullpen game. We’ve seen the Dodgers operate with this tactic a few times throughout the postseason due to a lack of starting pitching depth. There are times when it has worked, and others when it hasn’t. The unknown comes as it pertains to who will start this game. The bullpen generally is fresh all things considered. Through two games (including the off day), the likes of Ryan Brasier, Ben Casparius, Brent Honeywell Jr., Landon Knack, and Daniel Hudson have yet to throw a single pitch in this series. It has helped immensely that Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have each pitched into the sixth inning (and beyond in Yamamoto’s case) through the first two games.

Normally, the starting pitcher for any said game is made available to the public the day before the projected start. The Dodgers coincidentally have made Honeywell Jr. a representative to speak to the media on Monday. The long reliever/spot starter has been hugely valuable for the team in terms of chewing up innings with a decent fastball and an effective screwball. Throughout the postseason, these bullpen games have been started with relievers (Kopech, Brasier) tasked to go no more than two innings at the very most.

Should Honeywell Jr. start, he could function as more of a traditional starter. He’s capable of giving the Dodgers at least four innings. He’ll also be well rested having not been used in either of the first two games. Couple that with the aforementioned arms being ready to go, and there’s a pathway where the Dodgers could theoretically play Game 4 without having to exhaust any of the high-leverage arms.

From there, the other unknown is Shohei Ohtani. He left Game 2 after injuring his shoulder trying to steal second base in the 7th inning. Categorized as a partially dislocated shoulder, Ohtani is expected to play Monday evening.

Despite the optimism coming from the Dodgers on his diagnosis, we really won’t be able to see how this injury may or may not have impacted his ability to swing a baseball bat. Ohtani doesn’t exactly dial it down when trying to obliterate baseballs each time at the plate.

Ohtani’s presence in the lineup alone will be a boost for the ballclub. The injury might even force Ohtani to simplify things at the plate. He generates more than enough power where trying to instead spray the ball to different parts of the park may get him going. Ohtani hasn’t been struggling, per se, though he’s not been nearly as hot as he was at the end of the regular season.

Should Ohtani be hindered in any tangible way, one of his teammates will have to step up and give the Dodgers some production.