In their quest to stabilize a bullpen that’s endured its share of struggles over the past handful of seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Joe Kelly to a three-year, $25 million contract that includes an option and incentives.
Kelly had a subpar 2018 season but finished strong and that earned him a spot on the active roster come the postseason. The Dodgers got quite familiar with Kelly in the World Series, when he went 1-0 with two holds and 10 strikeouts over six innings.
Overall in the 2018 postseason, Kelly allowed just one earned run and collected 13 strikeouts against zero walks in 11.1 innings across nine appearances. That success has yet to translate over to the Dodgers, however.
Following another subpar game from Kelly, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts maintained his confidence in the right-hander and values his desire to pitching, via SportsNet LA:
“You look at the stuff, and the stuff is really good. I certainly applaud him for calling down to the dugout and wanting to take the baseball after [Sunday] night and appreciating what we got as far as length (from Hyun-Jin Ryu). It shows this guy wants the baseball. I think right now, some pitches are finding some outfield grass and he’s just not making pitches that he will make. Joe’s going to keep fighting. I believe in him, I know it’s going to turn. I just love the way this guy wants to pitch.”
Kelly inherited a leadoff single in the sixth inning and immediately walked Paul Goldschmidt to put two on with nobody out. Battling command issues, Kelly then surrendered a game-tying RBI single to Jose Martinez.
A double play nearly got him out of the inning, but Kelly’s wild pitch brought in the game-wining run. The veteran relief pitcher now has the unfortunate designation of not only having pitched in each of the Dodgers’ three losses this season, but blown a lead in those games.
Kelly is 1-2 and has allowed nine runs in six innings (13.50 ERA) and sports a 2.33 WHIP in five appearances.
