John Smoltz Shares Insight on the Trend of ‘Bullpen Games’ in the Postseason


moltz is introduced during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on September 08, 2021 in Cooperstown, New York.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

 

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.

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.