Dodgers Bullpen on Life Support: Wyatt Mills Called Up After Relievers Log 18 1/3 Innings in Three Days

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching staff is running on fumes. After a brutal three-game stretch that saw the bullpen cover more than 18 innings, the team made a necessary roster move on Sunday, calling up right-hander Wyatt Mills from Triple-A Oklahoma City to provide a fresh arm. To make room, the club optioned rookie Paul Gervase back to the minors just 24 hours after the young reliever threw a career-high three innings in a losing effort against the Atlanta Braves.

This is not a panic move. It is a survival move. And for a team with World Series aspirations, the strain on the relief corps is becoming a legitimate red flag in early June.

The Domino Effect: How One Short Start Caused a Bullpen Crisis

The trouble began last Wednesday in Houston. Ace Tyler Glasnow exited his start after just one inning due to back spasms, leaving the Dodgers scrambling for 24 outs. The bullpen answered the bell that night, covering eight innings in a 6-2 loss to the Astros. But the damage was deeper than the box score.

That single outing set off a chain reaction that has left the Dodgers’ relief unit gasping for air. On Saturday, the team rushed Blake Snell back from his rehab assignment one start early to fill Glasnow’s rotation spot. Snell, still building arm strength, managed only three innings on 77 pitches. He was laboring by the second inning, which meant another long night for the bullpen.

In total, Dodgers relievers have thrown 18 1/3 innings over the previous three games and four days. That is the equivalent of two full starts—plus a few extra outs—tacked onto a workload that was already heavy heading into the weekend.

The math is simple: when your starter can’t go deep, the bullpen pays the price. And when that happens three times in a row, you need a fresh arm. Enter Wyatt Mills.

Paul Gervase: A Gutsy Outing That Cost Him His Roster Spot

It is a cruel irony of baseball that Paul Gervase likely pitched himself out of the big leagues—for now—by throwing his heart out on Saturday night. Called up on Friday after Glasnow hit the injured list, the 25-year-old right-hander was asked to finish off a game that was already out of reach. He delivered a yeoman’s effort, tossing three full innings and allowing just one run on two hits while striking out three.

Gervase threw 50 pitches, just two shy of his professional career high. His previous longest outing since August 13, 2023, when he threw 3 1/3 innings for the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, was a distant memory. On Saturday, he was the last man standing in a bullpen that had been bled dry.

“Obviously we’ve got Wrobo going tomorrow, and we’re going to have to lean on him,” manager Dave Roberts said after the 7-2 loss to Atlanta. “There’s a few guys I feel really good about tomorrow being available. We’ll probably make another move to get another arm, for more coverage.”

Roberts was true to his word. Gervase, who had just arrived in Los Angeles on Friday, now heads back to Oklahoma City. He will be replaced by Wyatt Mills, a 29-year-old who has bounced between the minors and the majors over the past three seasons.

Who Is Wyatt Mills? A Fresh Arm With Something to Prove

Wyatt Mills is not a household name, but he might be exactly what the Dodgers need right now: a live arm that hasn’t been touched by the recent workload. Acquired by the Dodgers in a minor trade with the Kansas City Royals in 2023, Mills has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a slider that can generate swings and misses when he’s locating.

In 2024 with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Mills has posted a 4.15 ERA over 21 appearances, but his strikeout rate has ticked up to 10.2 K/9. More importantly, he has not pitched in the last 48 hours. For a bullpen that has been running on fumes, that freshness alone is valuable.

The Dodgers are hoping Mills can provide multiple innings if needed. With Justin Wrobleski (listed as “Wrobo” by Roberts) starting Sunday, the team needs a long reliever in case the rookie left-hander hits a wall early. Mills has experience working in bulk relief, having thrown two or more innings in five of his last 10 Triple-A outings.

Here is a quick look at what Mills brings to the table:

• Fastball: 94-96 mph with above-average vertical movement
• Slider: 83-85 mph, his primary swing-and-miss pitch
• Changeup: 87-89 mph, used mainly against left-handed hitters
• Walk rate: 3.8 BB/9 in Triple-A, an area that needs improvement

Mills is not a savior. But he is a body. And right now, the Dodgers will take that.

Expert Analysis: The Bigger Picture for Los Angeles

From a strategic standpoint, the Dodgers are walking a tightrope. The bullpen has been one of the team’s strengths this season, ranking in the top five in the National League in ERA and strikeout rate. But recent usage patterns are unsustainable. Over the last four days, six different relievers have pitched on back-to-back days, and closer Evan Phillips has been used in three of the last five games.

The return of Blake Snell was supposed to stabilize the rotation, but his abbreviated outing on Saturday only added to the problem. Snell is still building up arm strength after a spring training injury, and the Dodgers cannot expect him to go six or seven innings for at least another two starts. That means the bullpen will continue to be leaned on heavily.

Here is the critical question: Can the Dodgers afford to keep taxing their relief corps this early in the season?

The answer is no. History shows that teams that overuse their bullpen in May and June often pay the price in September. Fatigue leads to injuries. Injuries lead to ineffectiveness. And ineffectiveness in October ends championship dreams.

The Dodgers have a few options. They could call up another starter from Triple-A to piggyback with Snell or Wrobleski. They could also look to acquire a durable swingman via trade before the deadline. But for now, they are patching holes with duct tape and hope.

What to Expect Moving Forward

Here are three predictions for the Dodgers’ bullpen situation over the next week:

1. Wyatt Mills will get multiple innings within his first two appearances. The Dodgers need a long man, and Mills is the only fresh arm in the pen. Expect Roberts to use him for two or three innings as soon as Monday or Tuesday.
2. Paul Gervase will be back in the majors within three weeks. His performance on Saturday showed he can handle a heavy workload. The Dodgers will recall him once the bullpen gets a breather, likely after an off day or a strong start from a rotation arm.
3. The Dodgers will make a trade for a reliever before the All-Star break. This bullpen needs depth, and the front office knows it. Expect a move for a veteran arm who can eat innings and provide stability.

Conclusion: A Temporary Fix for a Growing Problem

The call-up of Wyatt Mills is a short-term solution to a long-term concern. The Dodgers are in the middle of a grueling stretch where their starting pitchers have failed to go deep, and the bullpen is paying the price. Paul Gervase gave everything he had on Saturday, and for his trouble, he finds himself back in Triple-A. That is the harsh reality of baseball at the highest level.

But the Dodgers are not panicking. They have the depth, the resources, and the front-office savvy to navigate this storm. For now, they just need a few fresh arms to hold the line until the rotation gets healthy and the schedule eases up.

Wyatt Mills is not the answer to all of Los Angeles’ problems. But for one day, one game, he is the answer to the most pressing one: who is going to throw strikes when everyone else is exhausted?

Stay tuned. This bullpen saga is far from over.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.