Wobbly bullpen forcing Roberts to lean on starters

In almost any other season, Dave Roberts might have made a different choice.

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Even though Tyler Glasnow was pitching a no-hitter, Roberts would have at least considered removing the righthander after six innings on Monday night.

Glasnow's pitch count was already at 91.

This season is unlike any other, however.

Up is down, down is up, and the Dodgers can't rely on their bullpen.

The uncharacteristic problem required an uncharacteristic solution from Roberts, who kept Glasnow in the game.

CARLIN STIEHL Los Angeles Times

TYLER GLASNOW has completed seven innings in each of his last two starts.

That bodes well for the Dodgers, whose bullpen has been unreliable this season.

What was most important about the series-opening 3-1 win over the Colorado Rockies wasn't that Glasnow kept a nohitter intact for another inning or that human propane tank Tanner Scott blew it by giving up a double to Ryan Ritter in the ninth.

Rather, the most promising development of the night was that Glasnow completed seven innings and threw 105 pitches.

Starts like this will be necessary for the Dodgers to overcome their most obvious weakness.

Starts like this will be indispensable in their quest to repeat as champions.