LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ second consecutive series win came at the hands of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. The two stars provided the offensive output that this team needed to overcome the scrappy play of the San Francisco Giants.
Without scheduled starter Tyler Glasgow scratched, manager Dave Roberts turned it into a bullpen game from the opening pitch. Ryan Brasier opened with a scoreless inning and Ryan Yarbrough kept the Giants at bay en route to a 5-4 victory on Tuesday night.
Here are three takeaways:
Dynamic duo carries offense
When Shohei Ohtani came to the Dodgers, he became the forefront of discussion and pressure immediately. We all forgot how good both Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman still are.
Betts already is leading the National League in nearly every major offensive statistical category.
Freeman had another three-hit day, his second in as many days and third of the season.
Even with Ohtani’s struggles at the plate to begin the season, Betts and Freeman have provided enough offense to power the Dodgers (6-2) and they can wait for Shohei Ohtani to his groove.
Bullpen day works
It has been the Dodgers’ speciality to use an opener and the bullpen to win regular season games. On Tuesday, Brasier pitched the first and handed off to Yarbrough, who kept the Dodgers close enough in 4 1/3 innings to earn the victory after allowing four runs.
Relievers Alex Vesia, Michael Grove and Evan Phillips blanked the Giants in the last 3 2/3 innings.
The last three relievers combined to allow two hits and no runs over 3 ⅔ innings as the Dodgers pulled out a one-run victory.
In these high leverage situations early in the season, players on the lower end of the bullpen great habits down the stretch.
Two pitchers headed to 60-day DL
Something you never want to hear with young arms: getting transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Brusdar Graterol has had recurring injury issues throughout his tenure with the Dodgers, specifically with his shoulder. Now, he is dealing with the same type of issue, this time with inflammation.
Graterol was one of the Dodgers’ best pitchers out of the bullpen in 2023 (1.20 earned-run average with seven saves). Dave Roberts said that Graterol should be back in late May.
Right-hander Emmet Sheehan was supposed to have a breakout season, much like Gavin Stone, but forearm inflammation has bothered him enough to the point where he has also been transferred to the long-term injured list.
While Sheehan has not seemed concerned about his injury, anything dealing with the forearm and elbow is worrisome.
The final game of the three-game series will begin at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday. The Dodgers will send right-hander Glasnow to the mound to face left-hander Kyle Harrison of the Giants.
