Daniel

Hudson

Hudson was a major contributor in the Dodgers’ World Series run after tearing his ACL in 2022 and missing most of the 2023, making 65 appearances and posting a 3.00 ERA. It seems that’s going to be it for him, though. Hudson won 16 games and pitched 222 innings as a 24-year-old for the Diamondbacks in 2011, but he blew out his elbow the following season and sent the rest of his career as a reliever. He finishes up with a 3.74 ERA in 61 starts and 486 relief appearances over 15 seasons. He pitched in the postseason just three times, but two of those earned him rings, as he was also a key reliever for the Nationals in 2019.

Hudson gave up two hits, walked one and struck out one. He was the first reliever out of the bullpen after Ben Casparius began the bullpen game for the Dodgers. Hudson began the third inning by striking out Juan Soto, but soon the bases were loaded after he hit Aaron Judge, allowed a single to Jazz Chisholm and walked Giancarlo Stanton. After Anthony Rizzo popped out, Hudson threw a first pitch slider down and in to Anthony Volpe that was hit out to left center field for a grand slam. The Yankees had a lead they wouldn’t give back and the Dodgers opted to use their low leverage relievers for the rest of the game.

The Dodgers said Hudson was unavailable for Game 2 after he pitched in Game 1 against the Mets, but no injury reason was provided at the time. Hudson missed much of 2022 and ’23 because of a torn ACL and a subsequent setback.

Michael Kopech is getting a little bit of a break. and Hudson was able to capitalize tonight. It’s likely that Kopech will be available Wednesday, turning Hudson back into a setup man.

Hudson didn’t allow a hit, didn’t strike anyone out, and didn’t give up a walk. He didn’t really have a chance to do any of those things as the Brewers made him throw just 10 pitches. It’s the ninth save of the season for Hudson, and the scoreless frame sees his ERA sit at 2.02 for the year.

The Dodgers had Evan Phillips warming up in the eighth, but when it came time for the ninth, Hudson was used for the third time in four days. He allowed a leadoff single, but he then retired the last three hitters in the Phillies lineup, as the team declined to pinch-hit for Austin Hays or Garrett Stubbs. Hudson will almost certainly get Tuesday off now, perhaps leading to a save chance for Phillips or Joe Kelly.

Treinen was picked over Daniel Hudson tonight after Hudson blew a save on Saturday. Treinen had been pretty effective in amassing a 2.30 ERA in 31 appearances coming into this one, but the Dodgers would almost certainly prefer to leave him in more of a setup role if Evan Phillips bounces back or Hudson can settle things in the ninth. Treinen actually has twice as many blown saves as Phillips (four to two) despite converting just one save and eight holds.

Evan Phillips went unused tonight, though that was to be expected after he threw 36 pitches the previous two days. Hudson probably is the favorite for saves in the Dodgers pen for the short term. It doesn’t sound like Dave Roberts has given up on Phillips, but it will probably be a little while before Phillips is asked to close again.

Roberts refused to commit to either leaving Phillips in the closer’s role or taking him out of it, but the guess is that he’ll get at least a brief break here after giving up seven runs in his last three appearances and 10 in his last eight. Daniel Hudson should be worth playing in fantasy leagues for at least the near future.

The Dodgers entered the ninth inning with a comfortable six-run lead, but since Phillips had already been warming up, they opted to bring him into the game. After giving up a pair of runs and loading the bases while recording only one out though, Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts turned to Hudson to close it out. He got Masataka Yoshida to ground into a fielder’s choice that plated a run and then retired Wilyer Abreu on a fly ball to end it. This may represent a changing of the guard in the ninth inning for the Dodgers.