Dave Roberts Chimes in After Bullpen Crumbles in Loss

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke about his bullpen’s struggles after they allowed seven unanswered runs in Sunday’s loss.

Emmet Sheehan had a solid start on the mound, throwing five innings of one-run baseball as the Dodgers took a 3-1 lead. The bullpen came in for the sixth inning, though, and LA lost control of the game.

The first big hit of the afternoon came off of Evan Phillips, who relieved Jack Dreyer after the left-hander walked two batters. Tyrone Taylor hit a three-run homer off of Phillips after he entered the game, giving the Mets the lead. Phillips has struggled since his return from Tommy John surgery, allowing four home runs in 6.2 innings pitched.

“A couple of them have just been bad pitches. A couple have been poor pitch decisions,” Phillips said . “I chalked today’s up to a guy just put a good swing on a good pitch. I thought I executed well to a spot we had open for him. He just put a swing on it that put it over the fence. It would be nice if some of these barrels would be base hits or doubles, but they’re going over the fence right now.”

Two innings later, the Mets scored four more runs, with Will Klein allowing a three-run homer of his own.

“I like what these guys have done, as far as the body of work,” Roberts said of the bullpen. “But the reality is that Klein is trying to find his way again, I think Evan, I think I’ve got to give him some different situations. So I think that’s where it’s at. And today, Jack (Dreyer), I had a great lane, and he just can’t walk two guys in an inning.”

Jul 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Evan Phillips (59) reacts after giving up a solo home run to New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Has the Dodgers’ Bullpen Struggled All Season?

Over the course of the season, the Dodgers have been fairly solid in relief outside of a couple of rough patches.

They have a collective 3.79 ERA out of the bullpen, which ranks eighth in MLB and fourth in the National League. Earlier in the season, their relievers had the longest scoreless streak since 2017, throwing 38 consecutive frames without conceding a run.

They have also been without some key players for a majority of the season, including All-Star signing Edwin Diaz, who is set to return during the Dodgers’ next series against the Seattle Mariners. That series begins Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. PT at Dodger Stadium.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →