Dodgers add flamethrowing ‘secret’ weapon for playoff push

The Los Angeles Dodgers hold baseball’s best record and can hope to clinch a first-round playoff bye if they win their ongoing series with the San Diego Padres.

But a potential weakness has emerged for the Dodgers as they look to secure a World Series championship. The team has been hit with an epidemic of pitching injuries and could be without Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone or Clayton Kershaw, among several other starters.

To help overcome this hurdle, the team has called up 22-year-old Edgardo Henriquez, a right-hander who has a 104 mile-per-hour fastball in his repertoire.

“He’s certainly a weapon,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters, as Henriquez prepared to make his debut against the Padres, per Dodgers Beat. “He’s secret in a sense; I don’t think anyone knows him outside of our organization, as far as the major leagues.”

In 53 innings across all levels of the minor leagues this season, Henriquez has maintained a 2.72 ERA with 88 strikeouts. In his major-league debut, he struck out two hitters in one inning.

While the Dodgers still face major questions about their playoff rotation, some reinforcement in the bullpen could certainly help. They might call upon their relievers to form a full bullpen game or to offer backup to an unproven starter like Landon Knack or a shaky veteran like Walker Buehler.

As such, Henriquez could be the kind of secret weapon who plays a major role in the Dodgers’ bid for a World Series championship, as he might soon earn a spot on the playoff roster.

“Now, they’ll see if they can catch lightning in a bottle with a chance of Henriquez still being eligible for the postseason (since he was in the organization by Aug. 31, the Dodgers can still add him through a waiver with the league office or as an injury replacement, both of which happen quite often in these cases),” according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

In any case, he could play a big role in the Dodgers’ final push toward the end of the regular season.

“Henriquez’s arrival comes at a critical time,” Ardaya added. “The Dodgers are looking to expand their division lead and close out the NL West with the second-place San Diego Padres in town at Dodger Stadium.”

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