While the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen was bolstered by the additions of Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen, the group also relied on contributions from Dylan Floro and other holdovers from prior seasons.
Floro struggled some during 2019, but returned this year with a refined changeup that helped his effectiveness against both right- and left-handed batters. “I’m starting to see a little more lefties with the three-batter minimum, and it was a big focus for me this offseason knowing you were going to have to face three guys,” he said during the season.
“I knew I was going to need something to keep the lefties from just staying on my two-seam. I’ve always kind of thrown it when I was a starter, just never felt too comfortable with it. I tried to overpower too much, and now I just kind of let the grip work.”
Floro wound up going 3-0 with a 2.59 ERA, 2.66 FIP and 1.11 WHIP in 25 games this season. He was left off the Dodgers’ Wild Card Series roster, which manager Dave Roberts said was a difficult decision and one based on matchups.
Roberts acknowledged Floro had earned a spot on the postseason roster and anticipated adding him once the club advanced. Floro was added for the National League Division Series and remained active the rest of the postseason.
He logged 5.1 innings and allowed five runs (three earned) over six appearances in October. The runs allowed came in back-to-back appearances — albeit five days apart — against the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays.
2020 highlight
Floro was lights-out to begin the season, stringing together 10 consecutive scoreless appearances. Although that streak was snapped, Floro allowed just one run in 15.2 innings pitched over 16 games during July and August.
2021 outlook
Floro is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time in his career and presumably will be tendered a contract. Assuming he remains with the Dodgers, Floro likely will be relied upon as a key contributor.
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