If you think running a Major League bullpen is easy, try doing it while watching leads evaporate faster than morning coffee. The Dodgers have endured a season-long parade of late-inning chaos, forcing Dave Roberts to scramble for answers no sane manager should need. Andrew Friedman, meanwhile, sits squarely in the crosshairs, criticized for a trade deadline that left the bullpen threadbare.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a bullpen that is as weak as a twig, and any amount of pressure will break the team. But the latest game against the D-backs saw 2 new faces: Roki Sasaki and Clayton Kershaw. They were dominant on the mound and are making their case for the postseason. But what happens the day they don’t perform? With that being the main question, John Ireland and Scott Mason gave their opinion on who the blame will be on if the Dodgers fail.

In their recent show, Mason and Ireland said, “None of it’s going to matter if they keep putting these bullpen losers in… This isn’t little league…Ultimately, this is on Friedman. He has messed it up… we could have had a legit closer at the deadline… While everybody’s bullpen got better, the Dodgers’ bullpen stayed the same, and it was awful.” And this was right, and now Roberts is forced to use starters Roki Sasaki and Clayton Kershaw in the bullpen.

The Dodgers’ bullpen has been a season-long nightmare, posting a 4.33 ERA, ranking 21st overall. Since September, it has cratered to a staggering 5.69 mark, blowing thirteen saves after the All-Star break. Veteran arms like Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen faltered repeatedly, while Kirby Yates, Michael Kopech, and rookies Dreyer or Henriquez regressed under pressure. Late-inning leads have been difficult to hold, highlighting ongoing challenges in Los Angeles’s bullpen as the postseason approaches.

Roki Sasaki and Clayton Kershaw temporarily injected hope, showing velocity, mechanics, and control improvements during recent relief appearances. Sasaki’s 99 mph fastball and splitter, alongside Kershaw’s rare relief stint, brought fleeting confidence to the beleaguered bullpen. Yet even they cannot be expected to deliver perfect innings, with Sasaki still raw and Kershaw past his peak rotation years. The front office could have reinforced the bullpen at the trade deadline with Jhoan Duran or Mason Miller, but Friedman’s minimal moves leave fans anxiously praying the makeshift arms hold.

If the Dodgers stumble in October, history and the fans will remember Friedman’s inaction more than Roberts’ creative bullpen juggling. Roki Sasaki and Clayton Kershaw might buy a few innings, but they can’t paper over a systemic fumble with sheer star power.  And the Dodgers’ bullpen struggles are not limited to just them.

Things are so bad in the Dodgers’ bullpen that they are called predictable

If you thought October baseball was about edge-of-your-seat drama, think again; sometimes it’s more like reading the same book twice. The Los Angeles Dodgers, perennial contenders, are marching into the postseason with a bullpen that has been figured out by hitters quite quickly. Andrew Friedman may have pulled the trigger on trades and signings all season, but if the predictable relief corps blows another lead, the front office will be squarely in the spotlight.

Tanner Scott has emerged as the Dodgers’ most predictable reliever, a glaring postseason liability fans dread. Arizona All-Star Geraldo Perdomo called him out, saying, “I saw the at-bat against Vargas; he threw six of seven sliders.” Perdomo added, “He has a good fastball. I don’t know why he doesn’t use it more.” With just a fastball and a slider, hitters are reading Scott like an open book this October.

Scott’s struggles aren’t just predictable; his confidence is visibly unraveling, making the Dodgers’ high-leverage situations even riskier. Despite a $72 million contract, he leads the majors with ten blown saves this season. Fans watch nervously, knowing one poorly sequenced slider could erase a game instantly. The predictable patterns and downward spiral leave Andrew Friedman facing harsh questions about postseason bullpen management.

If the Dodgers hope to survive October, relying on Tanner Scott’s “predictable” arsenal is a gamble fans can’t afford. Andrew Friedman’s offseason moves now hang by a thread, as every slider misfired magnifies front-office scrutiny. In Los Angeles, where championships are expected, even one readable pitch can turn October dreams into highlight-reel heartbreak.