From missing 2023 season with injury to sending Dodgers to the World Series 2024: How Blake Treinen became the unsung hero in NLCS

If someone had told Blake Treinen last year that he'd be one of the top pitchers in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen, he probably wouldn't have believed it. However, certain things have a way of working out, as shown by the veteran reliever's six-outs save in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, which sent his team to the Fall Classic.

Blake Treinen made only five appearances in 2022 and missed the entirety of last season after going through a long rehab spell to repair the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder. It was even unexpected that the Dodgers chose to pick up his club option for 2024 for $1 million after his one-year $8 million contract in 2023.

When healthy, Treinen pitched a solid 1.99 ERA in 2021, his last full season. His return to the mound was further set back to May, when he suffered two fractured ribs during Spring Training. But once he took the ball in his hand, he replicated his previous form that had seen him earn an All-Star cap in 2018.

Treinen had a 1.93 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP during 50 regular-season appearances. He earned only 10 runs in 46.2 innings pitched.

However, his significance to the Dodgers pitching staff was highlighted in the postseason, when he worked the eighth inning in the Dodgers' NLDS Game 4 bullpen game and earned the save in the decider against the Padres. On Sunday, he went one step farther, saving two innings against the Mets.

Dave Roberts's full faith in Blake Treinen

Blake Treinen's 2.08 ERA over 8.0 innings pitched this postseason was enough for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to go show full confidence in him to take the team home. Going with the 36-year-old was the sole option for Roberts, even if they were in trouble.

“That was my only plan right there,” Roberts said. "From the first inning, the first pitch, I had a lot of contingency plans. But at that point we were going to ride or die with Blake.”

Treinen hopes to come up good against the New York Yankees in the World Series.