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After an extensive 162-game regular season, the Major League Baseball postseason is well underway.
With the regular season being so long, strategy changes as teams enter the playoff atmosphere where every game counts.
A somewhat new strategy includes teams going with all bullpen pitchers for a game instead of starting with a starting pitcher.
Former pitcher John Smoltz reveals his thoughts on these ‘bullpen games,’ that teams are utilizing more and more as the years go on.
“You can’t do this 3 out of 5 games, but you can do this to reset and reset your rotation,” Smoltz said.
“Bullpen games” have proven to be an effective way to reset a starting rotation this #Postseason.
John Smoltz weighs in on the strategy.#MLBNow pic.twitter.com/XLTxn6FTGI
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) October 14, 2024
Smoltz appears to like the idea once in a while to ensure your top starting pitchers are getting enough rest between starts.
He explains how this strategy could not be used for multiple games in a series but could be used to reset the rotation and get a team’s top pitchers another day’s rest before pitching again.
The Dodgers appear to be leaning towards a bullpen game in game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.
Jack Flaherty started game 1 for the Dodgers and threw 7 strong innings, which means the Dodgers bullpen is fresh for game 2.
It will be interesting to see how Dodgers manager Dave Roberts uses his pitchers in game 2 as they hold a 1-0 series lead.
Bullpen games are becoming more and more popular, and they appear to be a staple in many team’s postseason strategies.
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