Remember way back when Dodgers right-hander Kenley Jansen – often called the best closer in the game today – blew a save, lost a game, and gave up two extremely rare home runs over a period of eight days?

Yeah, me neither.

Ok, maybe that’s not entirely true. Fact is, after his first three appearances of the now 10-game-old 2018 season, most Dodger fans were nearing panic mode with their beloved closer, many of whom believing that he was injured.

Fortunately for the Dodgers and for manager Dave Roberts, they were not among those even remotely concerned about their two-time All-Star and two-time Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year award-winning closer; not in the least.

“I know he’s healthy and I think that his last two outings I think that he’s started to get that mojo back,” Roberts told reporters prior to Tuesday night’s 4-0 win over the Oakland A’s, in which Jansen earned his second save in as many outings. “Two outings ago, I thought there was something in the middle of that outing where I thought that the ball came out really well, and then his last outing I thought he threw the baseball well, the velocity was good. With [Monday’s] off-day, he’ll be good, ready to go tonight.”

Good indeed.

Roberts admitted that he didn’t want to use Jansen on Tuesday night, but with two on and one out in the top of the ninth, the Dodger skipper brought in his star closer “…to get the win.” All Jansen did was retire both batters he faced – one via strikeout – on ten pitches. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Although Roberts acknowledged postgame that with a four-run lead and one out in the bottom of the ninth, he didn’t necessarily want to use his 6′-5″ / 275-pound “beast” (as Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp calls his locker neighbor and close friend), he told reporters that his team needed the win; especially when you take into account their recent (and lengthy) extra-inning games.

“Kenley looked really good, and his last three outings I think that it’s been trending in the right direction,” Roberts said. “I wanted to stay away from him tonight when you’re four-zero going into the ninth inning, but I had to get to him, had to get the win, and he threw the ball really well.”

As for the aforementioned Matt Kemp, he was quick to express his point of view about his dear friend, even if it meant interrupting Jansen’s postgame interview.

“No, Kenley’s back,” shouted Kemp, as Jansen was telling reporters that his team’s offense is back. “He’s at 93 [MPH], y’all see that? No 88, 93. Watch out!”

But it was Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager who summed up his team’s overall assessment of Kenley Jansen’s perceived early-season struggles and, as Kemp said, is “back.”

“I mean, I don’t know if he was ever gone,” said Seager, who earlier in the evening received his Silver Slugger Award for the 2017 season and who slugged his first home run of the season on Tuesday. “Nobody was ever worried about him, he’s the best in the game for a reason. He’s going to perform, nobody’s worried about that.”

Panic mode over.