Dodger bullpen past seven days

Rockies at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Brandon McCarthy, P

By Jon Weisman

You’re looking at the performance of the Dodger bullpen at home this week. The offense has carried the Dodgers, scoring at least five runs in every game, but by not making news at the end of the game, the bullpen is worthy of its own headline.

On the current homestand, Dodger relievers have held opposing batters to a .105 batting average, .190 on-base percentage and .123 slugging percentage in 63 plate appearances. In 17 1/3 innings, they have given up one run, on six walks, six singles and a double — while striking out 25.

The bullpen is also well-rested heading into today’s series finale with Colorado. No reliever has worked consecutive days since Wednesday. Only one has thrown more than 20 pitches in a game since Tuesday, and that was Pedro Baez, who has had three days off since throwing 25 pitches. With another off day Monday, all relievers should be primed for the team’s first trip to San Francisco next week.

It hasn’t hurt that they’ve been efficient. Since Wednesday, the bullpen has completed 9 1/3 innings on 134 pitches, or 14.4 pitches per inning.

Admittedly, Dodger relievers won’t remain quite this dominant — a 0.52 ERA is asking a but much — and the off days will become far less frequent, but they do have a couple of things to look forward to: getting a little more length out of their starting pitchers, and the return in the next few weeks of Kenley Jansen.