The Los Angeles Dodgers made a statement against the Milwaukee Brewers last Saturday, winning 11-3 in a meeting between two of the National League's strongest teams.
Milwaukee struck early, but the Dodgers responded with control and power. Teoscar Hernández drove in six runs, while Freddie Freeman reached base five times.
That comeback win was not only about the lineup. It also underlined how dominant the Dodgers' bullpen has become during a remarkable recent stretch.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
According to Elias Sports, the Dodgers bullpen has now produced a 36-inning scoreless streak, making it the longest bullpen scoreless run in franchise history since 1893.
That date matters because it was when the mound moved to its current distance, giving the streak a modern historical frame rather than just a recent comparison.
The achievement also stretches beyond the Dodgers. It is the longest scoreless streak by any MLB bullpen since Cleveland 's relievers went 38 2/3 innings without allowing a run in 2017.
For a team already expected to contend, that matters. October baseball often comes down to how much pressure a bullpen can absorb.
The Dodgers have star power, depth and a lineup capable of changing games quickly, as the Brewers found out.
But this streak shows another layer. If that continues, the Dodgers will have more than just an explosive offence to trust. They will have a bullpen performing at a level no Dodgers group has ever reached in the modern era.
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