The Los Angeles Dodgers easily could have selected Blake Treinen to replace Kenley Jansen as closer, but manager Dave Roberts made it clear the club preferred to keep him as a fireman capable of pitching any inning or scenario.
Treinen’s versatile role was then cemented when the Dodgers traded AJ Pollock to the Chicago White Sox for eight-time All-Star Craig Kimbrel. Both pitchers appeared in the Dodgers’ Opening Day win, and Treinen was back on the mound Saturday night in a tie game.
He struck out C.J. Cron and Ryan McMahon, and had Connor Joe in an 1-2 count. Having thrown a slider on back-to-back pitches, Treinen opted for a 91 mph cutter in the fourth pitch of the at-bat.
The ball had little movement and Joe sent it sailing into the stands in center field for a game-winning home run. Treinen took blame for the pitch after the 3-2 loss and noted he should’ve executed it better or gone with a different offering, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“It’s not like it’s a bad pitch if I execute it, but that was pretty flat middle-middle and there are definitely better pitches to throw in that situation,” Treinen said. “Of all the pitches that I could’ve thrown, that was probably the one pitch that gives him the most chance.
“Me and Barnes talked about it and we both shook our heads like ‘Why did we do that?’ Baseball sucks sometimes. … One bad pitch kinda cost me and it cost the team.”
That Treinen gave up a home run in just his second appearance of the season was jarring as he only surrendered six last year.
He’s now unlikely to pitch in the series finale at Coors Field and with an off day in the Dodgers’ schedule on Monday, the veteran should get two days of rest before next appearing in a game.
Treinen was open to any role for Dodgers
Prior to the Dodgers completing their trade for Kimbrel, Treinen expressed a willingness to take on any role out of the bullpen. He also mentioned being on board with potentially starting a game as an opener.
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