Kopech picked up the save over the Orioles on Wednesday, striking out two over a perfect ninth inning.
Kopech entered the contest with a 6-4 lead in the top of the ninth and retired the first two batters on strikes before getting Adley Rutschman to pop out to second for the final out of the game. The save was the right-hander's 12th of the season and the third in his last six appearances. Kopech has only allowed one run in 12.1 innings (12 appearances) this month, posting a 0.76 ERA in August to go along with a 16:3 K:BB. He's also recorded two strikeouts in back-to-back appearances and in three of his last four overall.
Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Needs rest, but fine physically
Rotowire
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Kopech is "gassed" and will be held out from pitching for a few days, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
During Kopech's successful save against St. Louis on Sunday, he averaged 96.7 miles per hour on his 10 fastballs, two ticks below his season average of 98.7 mph. Roberts acknowledged after the contest that he has deployed the righty reliever more often than the White Sox did prior to the deal between the two teams at the trade deadline and suggested that Kopech isn't physically injured but will be held out a few games for rest purposes. Kopech pitched three times in four days from Thursday to Sunday, though he was relatively efficient with a total of 40 pitches during that span. If he is indeed uninjured, Kopech will likely be back to working in high leverage for the Dodgers before the end of the week and should continue to see frequent chances in a closing role. He's notched a save in both of his past two appearances and has posted 9.1 scoreless innings with a 13:1 K:BB and just one hit allowed over nine appearances since joining Los Angeles.
Kopech threw a scoreless inning to earn a save against the Cardinals on Sunday.
Kopech threw seven of 12 pitches for strikes and finished the game on a double-play ball after a runner reached base on an error. He's now turned in 9.1 consecutive scoreless innings to begin his Dodgers career and earned two saves during the weekend series against St. Louis. With Daniel Hudson (8.64 ERA over his last nine appearances) and Evan Phillips (no saves since July 23) seemingly falling out of favor, the Dodgers may use Kopech in the ninth inning more often. Kopech owns a 3.91 ERA with a 72:25 K:BB through 53 innings this season.
Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Gets first save with new team
Rotowire
Kopech struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 7-6 win over the Cardinals.
Kopech continues to excel with the Dodgers -- he's yet to give up a run over 8.1 innings with the team while posting a 13:1 K:BB in that span. Evan Phillips and Joe Kelly served as the bridge over the seventh and eighth innings before Kopech got the save opportunity, while Daniel Hudson didn't pitch after his blow-up versus the Brewers on Thursday. For the season, Kopech has 10 saves and five holds while pitching to a 3.98 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 72:25 K:BB through 52 innings between the Dodgers and the White Sox. The Dodgers' bullpen depth means it's unlikely Kopech is ever the clear-cut closer, but he should continue to get plenty of high-leverage chances.
Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Thriving with Los Angeles
Rotowire
Kopech earned a hold against the Brewers on Monday, walking one batter and striking out two in a scoreless inning.
Kopech handled the eighth frame and worked around a two-out walk to keep Milwaukee off the scoreboard. He earned his fourth hold in six appearances since joining the Dodgers on July 29. Kopech has yet to allow a run over 6.1 innings with his new team, and he's surrendered just one hit while posting a 10:1 K:BB. The righty reliever has quickly become Los Angeles' top setup man, but it's unclear if he'll get any save opportunities after working as the White Sox's closer for most of the season prior to being dealt.
