When he mapped out how his team could survive a bullpen game in Game 2 of the NLCS, Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts envisioned long reliever Landon Knack recording the most outs. He hoped Knack could eat up innings and serve as an early-innings bridge to the Dodgers’ four high-leverage relievers.

Roberts announced that the Dodgers will go with a bullpen game on Monday. It's a strategy that's already proven effective during this postseason. During their 8–0 win over the San Diego Padres in NLDS Game 4, L.A. used eight different pitchers who combined to throw nine shutout innings.

This time, though, Roberts landed on one good outcome after another, all while navigating a treacherous pitching path in Games 4 and 5. Friedman called his manager’s maneuvering “surgical.” The talented, electric Padres could not get off the operating table, much less recover.