Aftermath of Dodgers bullpen blow up

Monday night's Dodgers loss to the Diamondbacks was more stunning than anything, but in the time it took for the bullpen as a whole to ignite, then stoke the flames the stun wore off and gave way to more of a historical curiosity.

Especially by a bullpen that had performed so well the vast majority of the season, especially of late.

Every active Dodgers reliever except closer Kenley Jansen was used, and all six did a poor job on Monday night. Six relievers combined for 12 outs and 107 pitches, and allowed 10 runs on 10 hits, with five walks and four strikeouts.

All six relievers allowed at least two runners to reach base, matching a Dodgers franchise record dating back to at least 1914. Two of the other four times it has been done were in extra innings. The last time six Dodgers relievers allowed at least two baserunners in a nine-inning game was June 25, 1950, a 16-11 loss to the Pirates at Ebbets Field.

The Dodgers also matched a dubious franchise mark (again, dating back to 1914) with four different relievers allowing at least two runs. That has been done 12 other times, the last time on May 17, 2014, also in Arizona against the D-backs. That was Clayton Kershaw's infamous blow-up start last season, when he allowed seven runs and couldn't get out of the second inning. His relievers combined to allow 11 runs in an 18-7 loss.

That game was also the last time the Dodgers bullpen allowed 10 runs in a game.

That June 25, 1950 game against the Pirates was the only other Dodgers game since 1914 that saw both six relief pitchers allow two or more baserunners and four relief pitchers allow at least two runs.

The immediate thought during and after using six relief pitchers, and with Carlos Frias starting on Tuesday, is that the Dodgers might need to call somebody up from Triple-A to have a fresh arm ready at least, if not a long reliever in waiting.

But that might not necessarily be the case, thanks in part to strong and deep weekend starts by Brett Anderson, Kershaw and Zack Greinke.

Don Mattingly told reporters after Monday's game that there would be roster discussions on Monday night, but that he didn't feel any particular reliever was overused on Monday.

Pedro Baez threw 26 pitches, but wasn't used in the previous two days.

Juan Nicasio threw 19 pitches, but hadn't pitched since Wednesday.

Joel Peralta threw 19 pitches, but it was his first outing since Thursday.

Yimi Garcia threw 20 pitches and J.P. Howell 16, but was each was off on Sunday.

The only pitcher to appear in each of the last two games was Adam Liberatore, who threw a total of nine pitches in those two games.

If the Dodgers do decide to call up a relief pitcher, Ian Thomas is out since he started and threw 81 pitches on Saturday for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The other two options are more fresh - Daniel Coulombe last pitched Friday, his only outing in the last eight days; and while Matt West pitched Monday night for OKC he only threw six pitches, in his first outing since pitching two innings on Thursday.

Both would be available if the Dodgers opt for a fresh arm Tuesday, but both would require someone getting placed on the DL since they haven't been down for 10 days. Josh Ravin has been, and he last pitched Sunday. So he's really the only option if the Dodgers so choose.

Brandon League was also scheduled to pitch for Oklahoma City on Monday in Nashville, but that game was shortened to five innings by rain. It is unknown if League will return to the Dodgers for reevaluation or if he will accompany Oklahoma City to Memphis, where they play on Tuesday, for what would be his 10th appearance on this minor league rehab assignment.