LOS ANGELES \u2014 Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen said he never lost confidence during a rocky spring training.<\/p>\n
His release point might have gone adrift, and his command soon followed, but the veteran right-hander never doubted his ability to win battles against major-league hitters, even after posting an 8.10 ERA with eight walks and a hit batter in 6\u2154 innings in exhibition games.<\/p>\n
Since the regular season began two weeks ago, Treinen has done quite the opposite, blanking the opposition in his first five relief appearances covering 4\u2154 innings.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the stuff we were working on in the spring is starting to click now, which is great,\u201d Treinen said before the Dodgers opened a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Friday night. \u201cKind of frustrating towards the end of spring there, because people want to see results, making people worry a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Treinen was in his most high-leverage situation of the season in his last outing on Wednesday, a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, entering in the seventh inning with runners on the corners and one out in a tied game.<\/p>\n
He allowed a stolen base and a walk to load the bases, but then struck out left-handed No.\u00a04 hitter Jesus Sanchez on three pitches before inducing an inning-ending grounder to third.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe execution was great,\u201d Treinen said of his pitching sequence against Sanchez. \u201cThe execution of the sinkers in the zone to lefties has been really good. That, to me, is what stands out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Treinen had an MLB-best 32 holds during the 2021 season, working primarily as the set-up guy for Kenley Jansen, but as the Dodgers transitioned from Craig Kimbrel to Evan Phillips to Tanner Scott and now Edwin Diaz as their primary closers, the eighth-inning set-up role has also become less defined.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to have a clear person for that role, but then you can argue that that person in a higher-leverage spot (in earlier innings) is more valuable,\u201d Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.<\/p>\n
Treinen said he\u2019s ready for any role the Dodgers have to offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve done so many roles in my career, wherever they have me, I want to be the best in baseball at what I do,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s my goal every year.\u201d<\/p>\n
INJURY NEWS<\/p>\n