Friday, April 24, 2026

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2026

A possible playoff preview didn’t disappoint. The Dodger bullpen couldn’t hold an early lead as the Cubs lengthened their winning streak to ten games.

On a pleasant Friday night at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers let an early lead slip away in a 6–4 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

In the third inning, after Hyeseong Kim singled and Alex Freeland walked, Will Smith socked a three-run homer. The Dodgers added another run in the fourth inning on Kim’s single.

The lead looked secure while Emmet Sheehan was having his best outing of the year.  Over his 6.1 innings, he allowed one run on four hits while striking out ten and walking one. He commanded his entire arsenal.  To begin the game, he retired ten consecutive batters. After 101 pitches, Dave Roberts lifted a tiring Sheehan.

After Edwin Díaz underwent right elbow surgery on Wednesday, questions arose about the Dodger bullpen, but the organization downplayed them, pointing to improved outings from Blake Treinen and Tanner Scott. Yes, Alex Vesia allowed his first two runs of the season in the seventh inning, but he should rebound from a poor outing.

Treinen allowed the tying run in the eighth after his last outing on Sunday, when he couldn’t retire a Colorado Rockies hitter.  His velocity has been diminished this season, after missing a large portion of the 2025 season with a right forearm strain.

Scott, who couldn’t get out of the ninth inning, allowed a two-run homer to Dansby Swanson. He gave up another homer when the Dodgers played the Cleveland Guardians, another playoff-caliber team. Otherwise, he has been generally effective.  Roberts didn’t want to declare a closer while Díaz was out, but later he identified Scott as the best option.

Over the last season and the first month of this year, Scott has demonstrated that he may not have the temperament to be a closer. He rarely allows a home run in a non-save situation. Even outside traditional save situations, he has struggled in the ninth inning.

The Dodgers will look to even the series on Saturday with Roi Sasaki on the mound.