The cost of the Dodgers' reluctance to use their best relievers in “minus” games, as manager Dave Roberts likes to say, was clear in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.

A small deficit early in the game expanded into an insurmountable seven-run hole when the Dodgers left Jack Flaherty alone for a five-run third inning. Although the offense then scored five goals, the New York Mets' lead had become too large for the Dodgers to come from behind to win.

“You kind of have to be consistent with how you use your pitchers,” Roberts argued. “Because ultimately it’s about winning four games in a seven-game series.”

And as the NLCS returns to Los Angeles, the Dodgers are counting on their cautious bullpen management to gain decisive advantages.

With the Dodgers needing just one more win to reach the World Series, they will play a bullpen game in Game 6 on Sunday, Roberts confirmed on Saturday's day off. The hope is that the bullpen ball they saved in Game 5 — and a similar loss in Game 2 — will pay off at Dodger Stadium.

Although the Dodgers' starters in this series (including Landon Knack in Game 2, which followed an opener) combined to pitch just 21 ⅓ innings over the first five games, the team's most trusted bullpen options were largely spared.

Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips and Daniel Hudson each pitched just once in this series. Anthony Banda threw just 20 pitches in two appearances. Blake Treinen pitched 2 ⅓ innings in two games, but only faced a batter twice in that span: Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor.

Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen delivered against the Mets in Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

That means the Dodgers' top relief arms will not only be fresh but also relatively unknown in the Mets' lineup heading into Game 6 – a potentially dramatic byproduct of the Dodgers' decision to essentially take advantage of their two losses last week.

According to MLB researcher Sarah Langs, hitters in the postseason since 2019 have a batting average of .275 and a slugging percentage of .483 when facing relief pitchers for the third straight year. For comparison, batters hit just .232 in the postseason, with an overall slugging percentage of .392 in the same span.

This is a dynamic the Dodgers will hopefully take into account over the next two days, when their relievers will likely get most – if not all – of Game 6 and are needed for more big innings behind starter Walker Buehler in Game 7 could be if the series wins there.

“We were kind of protected from some of their guys in the lineup,” Phillips said. “And I think the rest is probably more important to keep our guys fit for tomorrow and Game 7 if necessary. But hopefully those two things are in our favor.”

What exactly the Dodgers' pitching plan will look like for Game 6 remains unclear. Roberts said it could look similar to Game 2, but he's more willing to be aggressive with his higher-leverage arms early in the game.

“It’s an all-hands-on-deck situation,” Roberts said. “This is what I will look like tomorrow.”

What is evident, however, is the Dodgers' comfort level when it comes to relying on the bullpen at the most critical time of the season.

It worked in Game 4 of the NL Division Series when the Dodgers faced elimination. The unit was also instrumental in the club's other five wins in October. Overall, Dodgers relievers have a 2.94 ERA in the playoffs. And their highest-leverage quintet — Treinen, Phillips, Kopech, Hudson and Banda — were virtually error-free, combining for a stunning 23 ⅔ scoreless innings.

Given the club's conservative use of this five of late, they should be prepared to continue this dominance for the rest of this series.

The Dodgers obviously have to do that; They effectively put the season in their hands after choosing not to pursue comeback wins more aggressively in their two losses to the Mets in this series.

“I think over the last few seasons we've kind of built that confidence and parity in bullpen games,” Phillips said. “Bullpen games are part of how we operate here. We’re definitely excited for the opportunity to be a part of that tomorrow.”

Freddie Freeman's status

It remains unclear whether first baseman Freddie Freeman, who has just one hit in his last 15 at-bats as he continues to battle an ankle sprain, will be in the lineup for Game 6.

After Freeman's scoreless – and clearly limited – performance in Game 5, Roberts said that sitting out the former MVP was “certainly an option.” However, as of Saturday afternoon, Roberts had not made a final decision.

“I will not jeopardize his health or win a game tomorrow if he is not mentally and/or physically ready,” Roberts said.