CHICAGO _ After recording three outs in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series with the Chicago Cubs, Kenta Maeda did not pitch for the Dodgers on Sunday night. He was warming up as Justin Turner's game-winning homer cleared the center-field fence.
Maeda had never been a reliever before this postseason, but manager Dave Roberts indicated the team was ready to use the right-hander on consecutive days, despite his lack of experience.
"His arm is resilient," Roberts said. "Depending on how he's used in a particular game, the back to back, we're not concerned about."
Maeda has retired all nine batters he has faced this postseason. The team wants to deploy him against right-handed batters; he held them to a .647 on-base-plus-slugging percentage during the regular season.
The addition of Maeda to the bullpen has fortified the bridge to closer Kenley Jansen.
Jansen has three saves and a victory, and appeared in all five playoff games. Right-hander Brandon Morrow also has pitched in every game, giving up two hits and a run over 6 1/3 innings.
