The early exit forced the bullpen to cover extensive innings, and the game quickly got out of hand after successive multi-run frames by the relief staff.
>>> Messi Hat Trick Powers Argentina Past Algeria in World Cup Opener
"Just frustrating," Sheehan said. "Definitely couldn't put guys away.
Not efficient. Not good all around."
Roberts immediately elected to protect the young arm from further strain. "I just didn't feel comfortable getting him past the 40-pitch mark," he said.
The coaching staff then attempted to stretch out subsequent relief appearances to preserve the bullpen for the upcoming road trip.
"I tried to extend him to kind of shorten the game," Roberts explained.
FanGraphs statistics confirm that the six active rotation members have maintained highly effective individual metrics despite the adjusted schedules.
Ohtani leads with a 2.67 FIP and 2.2 WAR, while Yamamoto has a 3.38 FIP and 2.0 WAR.
>>> Shohei Ohtani's Solo Homer Lifts Dodgers to 1-0 Win Over Rays
The Dodgers travel next to Pittsburgh and Chicago for a six-game road trip, with catcher Will Smith listed as day-to-day due to a stiff neck.
