The Dodgers’ Postseason Pitching Weapon Everyone Was Expecting

“Guess who’s back?”

“Back again?”

“(Kelly)’s back.”

“Tell a friend.”

Joe Kelly should return to the Dodgers’ active roster tonight or tomorrow. This, following a rehab stint with Oklahoma City which saw him strike out three of seven batters across two separate outings. If the activation doesn’t happen tonight, it’ll come soon. The man was seen yesterday in Atlanta, and he’s got velocity on the mind.

It hasn’t been Joe Kelly’s best major league season. A few trips to the injured list. Successful fits and starts punctuated by rare bright moments in the lives of his sad, self-loathing haters. Our hero’s battled through it all, though, and with October just around the corner as the Dodgers look to end a 36-year World Series drought (Joe Kelly won a title in 2020; the Dodgers did not), who better to welcome back than the longtime playoff bullpen ace?

For those needing a refresher (i.e., everybody saying the Dodgers should keep Joe Kelly off the playoff roster, as if that’s even possible), here are some Joe Kelly career postseason stats:

• 41 appearances
• 3.45 ERA
• 2.03 ERA in the World Series
• 1–0 record in World Series against the Dodgers
• 1–0 record in World Series on the Dodgers’ behalf

This is the guy some Dodgers fans think isn’t good enough to play for their team in October? Their team who’s 1–6 over the last two playoffs?

Get out of here.

Out.

Now.

.

.

Ok, now that they’re gone. Shohei Ohtani also might pitch in the playoffs. That news was confirmed within the last couple days. I haven’t heard anything about Clayton Kershaw but there is a path to Kershaw, Ohtani, and Kelly piggybacking Game 7 of the World Series. This is what people mean when they talk about the American Dream.