Dodgers Analyst Believes LA's Closer Situation is Becoming Clearer as Hudson Returns
The Dodgers bullpen has been quite the revolving door this season. As of Tuesday, the Dodgers have used 20 different relievers out of the bullpen this season and 28 pitchers total — not including position player Luke Williams. For reference, last year, the Dodgers used a total of 30 pitchers, not including position player Hanser Alberto.
It's been a weird year in LA's bullpen, and injuries haven't helped the cause.
The Dodgers have been without Daniel Hudson the entire season, and Alex Reyes, who was supposed to come back around June or July, won't be coming back this year at all.
However, as the end of June approaches, things are finally looking up.
Not only has the bullpen been much better as of late — sporting a 0.32 ERA since June 18 — they're also about to get a huge boost with the return of Hudson, who's supposed to be activated off the injured list this weekend in Kansas City.
Hudson has tons of closer experience in his career, and has even gotten the last out in a World Series. It would make sense for him to come in and immediately overtake the role as the Dodgers' closer, but Dodgers analyst Jose Mota spoke to Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation, and said he isn't so sure.
"I do not expect (Daniel Hudson) to come out and take Evan Phillips’ job," Mota said. "I think he’s gonna be a guy that you have to go to in high-pressure situations, high-leverage situations. You don’t want to waste an arm like that in the sixth inning, no matter what the situation calls for. But I think it’s gonna give you the luxury of saying, 'Okay, if I go Phillips back to back nights, guess what, I have Daniel Hudson.' ...
"In certain situations, (Hudson) will be the closer, only based, on my opinion, on availability from Evan Phillips."
Whether Hudson is the closer or not, he's going to make a huge impact on this Dodgers bullpen.
Last year, before going down with a torn ACL, Hudson was one of the Dodgers' better relievers, sporting a 2.22 ERA with five saves in 25 games.
The Dodgers will now have tons of flexibility in terms of higher leverage situations, and if they feel like it's better to use Evan Phillips in a high-leverage spot in the seventh or eighth inning, they'll have a closer in Hudson ready to go.
