LOS ANGELES — How many times have we expressed the sentiment this year alone? At one time or another, every fan base in baseball hates its bullpen – and this year it’s Dodger fans’ turn. That development might be karmic payback for their team leaning so hard on relievers in winning the World Series last year.

That said, the antidote as this postseason continues seems obvious: Lean on the starters heavily in 2025. Get them through the sixth, and into and maybe through the seventh, to lessen the burden (and dependence) on a relief corps that has been largely untrustworthy in 2025.

But maybe the Dodgers have, indeed, found their closer, after two months or so of sheer terror every time the bullpen gate swung open.

Wednesday night, instead of apprehension in the ninth inning there was joy,

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