The way Kevin Cash managed the fifth inning wasn’t about saving bullpen arms. It wasn’t about “soft punting” once the Dodgers got the lead.
Running Tyler Glasnow though 112 pitches up to Cody Bellinger for the third time, was a legitimate attempt to win the game, and an aggressive play by Kevin Cash. It has to do with the matchups.
Let’s walk through the fifth inning. You can read more about the framework I’m using here.
Entering the Fifth
Through four innings, Glasnow had given up two hits, mostly working around his four walks.