It’s one of those ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ things. Through the first two games of the 2017 National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hasn’t even blinked an eye about using de facto setup man Brandon Morrow and star closer Kenley Jansen on consecutive days and, when needed, for multiple innings. But after Monday’s welcomed travel day off and with at least two and possibly three consecutive games looming (if necessary) at what will undoubtedly be an extremely partisan crowd at the so-called ‘friendly confines of Wrigley Field’ beginning on Tuesday evening at 6:01 pm PT, is the Dodger skipper concerned about possibly having to use Morrow and especially Jansen perhaps three days in a row?

“No,” Roberts answered emphatically, during a media conference call interview on Monday afternoon. “It sort of depends on the stress, the pitch-count for each guy.

“They’ve both been very efficient, and with the off-day today, obviously we’re mindful of that,” Roberts added. “But yeah, when you’re looking at potentially three games in a row … but I do believe that, for our guys, we’ve prepared for this moment and monitored their usage throughout the season. So, suffice to say, we’ll do whatever we can to win game three.”

Although Kenley Jansen gets most of the accolades, Dodgers right-hander Brandon Morrow has been equally lights out this season and postseason. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In the simplest of terms, the Dodgers bullpen has been absolutely brilliant through the first two games of the best-of-seven NLCS. In fact, they have been near perfect, having allowed zero runs, zero hits and zero walks. The only baserunner allowed by the Dodgers bullpen thus far was a hit batsman of Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo by Jansen in the top of the ninth inning of Sunday’s dramatic 4-1 walk-off win on Justin Turner’s historic three-run home run off of Cubs veteran right-hander John Lackey. Ironically, it was Jansen who picked up the win on Sunday night, having entered the game when it was still tied 1-1.

There is no one, absolutely no one, that Dodger fans would rather see entering a game than Kenley Jansen.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In their combined eight innings of relief, Messrs. Josh Fields (2), Tony Cingrani (4), Kenta Maeda (5), Tony Watson (10), Brandon Morrow (28), and Kenley Jansen (30) have thrown a grand total of 79 pitches, of which 51 were strikes to the 25 Cubs batters they have collectively faced. Of those 25 batters, nine were struck out (six by Jansen), eight grounded out and seven flied out.

Very efficient indeed.