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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had declared right-hander Blake Treinen unavailable for the postseason after the pitcher sustained a shoulder injury while warming up for a relief outing in San Francisco. However, those comments may have been premature.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman indicated on Saturday that Treinen's postseason availability is "not decided firmly." Friedman added, "It was clear for this round, but we'll keep monitoring it as we go." He characterized the issue as "soreness," a vague yet far less alarming description than Roberts' initial assessment when Treinen landed on the injured list following the Dodgers' Sept. 26 game against the Giants.
At that time, Roberts remarked, "I don't know if it was a complete blowout, but really unfortunate."
Over 12 major league seasons, the last six with the Dodgers, Treinen has compiled a 49-42 record with a 2.94 ERA and 83 saves. Though he has only occasionally closed games for Los Angeles, he has been a dependable source of strikeouts, low ERAs, and pivotal postseason contributions as the Dodgers secured three World Series titles this decade.
In 2024, Treinen converted all three of his postseason save opportunities, surrendering just three runs over nine October appearances. He earned the win in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series by tossing 2.1 scoreless relief innings against the New York Yankees.
If the Dodgers require Treinen's services this month, it would not simply signal his return to health. It would also mean that one or more other relievers—likely a couple—are unavailable.
Key Analysis
The Dodgers possess a deep and talented bullpen, to the extent that they left two pitchers expected to be October fixtures—left-handers Justin Wrobleski and Jack Dreyer—off the National League Division Series roster. That choice was largely influenced by the opposing lineup.
For Treinen to pitch in a game this month, he would need to demonstrate he is more deserving of a roster spot than Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Brock Stewart, Roki Sasaki, Evan Phillips, Edgardo Henriquez, Edwin Diaz, and Kris Bubic—along with Wrobleski and Dreyer. Right-handers Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan also have lockers and are seemingly ready if needed.
Right-hander Will Klein ended the season on the injured list like Treinen, but his throwing progression has positioned him to rejoin the roster if required.
Treinen's potential availability is likely just a minor note in the Dodgers' 2026 postseason journey. Given that it seemed impossible a week ago, it is at least worth mentioning.
J.P. Hoornstra is an On SI Contributor. A veteran of 20 years of sports coverage for daily newspapers in California, he covered MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Los Angeles Angels (occasionally of Anaheim) from 2012-23 for the Southern California News Group. His first book, The 50 Greatest Dodgers Games of All-Time, was published in 2015. In 2016, he won an Associated Press Sports Editors award for breaking news coverage. He once recorded a keyboard solo on the same album as two of the original Doors. Follow jphoornstra.