The Dodgers Have No Plans to Force a Closer into the Mix

Despite bullpen struggles being a hallmark of this season, Dodger personnel see no reason to have a designated closer at this point.

When looking at the totality of the Los Angeles Dodgers as we near the halfway point of the season, there are things that are going right.

The offense has been clicking lately, especially Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez.

They may have found a future star in the rotation in rookie Bobby Miller, and the rest of the rotation is improving for the most part.

The one glaring reason why the Dodgers aren't sitting atop the NL West in mid-June is because of pervasive issues in the bullpen.

If it wasn't for that, LA may very well be the best team in the National League.

For all of the problems that the Dodgers have had in the bullpen this year -- the group currently has a collective 4.76 ERA, fourth worst in MLB -- they remain only four games behind the surging Diamondbacks, a deficit the Dodgers have the ability to erase rather quickly.

In spite of the struggles in the back end of games, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman sees no reason for a designated closer at this time, he told Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

"We feel like we have the talent down there to navigate close games and win them," Friedman said. "If you have a designated closer, that’s helpful in a lot of ways. But I also think it can be harmful if you force that."

As for the current plan, it seems like the team will continue to deploy arms in different circumstances depending on the game situation, and as far as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is concerned, it's up to the relievers to perform to a higher standard.

"You have to peel back individual performance," Roberts said. "And I think that individually, guys are not pitching to their capabilities." (via Jack Harris of the LA Times)

Hopefully for the Dodgers, Caleb Ferguson, Evan Phillips, and the rest of the usually dependable bullpen arms can right their own ships.

And while the plan as of today is to stay put, that doesn't mean the franchise won't make a move if the need continues to present itself around the August 1 trade deadline.

"Obviously, if that doesn’t happen, then we’re gonna have to figure out either internally or externally how to improve," Friedman said. "But we feel like we have the talent internally to get there, and then couple that with some reinforcements." (via Jack Harris of the LA Times)

The performance of the 'pen is an element to keep an eye on, both for the Dodgers when it comes to the division, and also their potential plans going forward.