With the Los Angeles Dodgers trailing the St. Louis Cardinals by two runs and Kenta Maeda due up fifth in the bottom of the fourth inning, Hyun-Jin Ryu began to warm up in the bullpen. A surprise in and of itself, it answered a question Dodgers manager Dave Roberts faced the past two days.
The Dodgers are largely without a spot for Ryu in their starting rotation as currently constructed. Roberts indicated a role as a reliever was under consideration, but the Dodgers were mindful of the impact it would have on Ryu’s routine.
But an opportunity presented itself after Kenta Maeda went five innings.