Dodgers Fans Won't Love Dave Roberts' Comments on Bullpen Struggles

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost their seventh game of the year on Sunday against the San Diego Padres. A big reason for their loss was their pitching staff. Sunday's starter, James Paxton, didn't have the best outing, as he pitched five innings and allowed three hits, three runs, and a career-high eight walks.

Sunday's match was also not ideal for the bullpen staff, as they allowed six walks to bring the total to 14. This was the most walks L.A. had given up in one game since 1962.

The Dodgers bullpen has been better during the series against the Washington Nationals, but it doesn't change the fact that it's been a concern for L.A. to start the season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is confident in what he has in the bullpen, though.

"This was definitely not a good one," Roberts said of the bullpen on Sunday. "But I think in totality, you look and there's been a lot of good things, a lot of innings that they've covered. It's hard when you look back at a couple pitches we would like to have back. The walk is something that is tough to watch. But the guys that we have we really like. Their track records speak for themselves. And we just gotta be more consistent."

The eye test shows the bullpen isn't good right now. The Dodgers rank 18th in the league in team bullpen ERA at 4.32. There were even worse, in the 20s, heading into this week.

It doesn't help that the Dodgers' top bullpen guys are still on the mend and will be for the foreseeable future, like Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen. However, the Dodgers need the guys that are healthy to step up into the bullpen gets to full strength later in the year.