MILWAUKEE — The results say the Dodgers have been unwise to trust Craig Kimbrel with a one-run lead during the regular season.

All 20 of Kimbrel’s successful saves have come when he entered the game with a multi-run lead. In only four of his 44 appearances has Kimbrel entered to protect a one-run lead. He blew the save in all four instances (including Tuesday night in Milwaukee).

So – what happens in October?

“October is not upon us right now,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Wednesday’s game. “If we have a one-run lead tonight, he’s pitching. So that’s kind of where I’m at right now.”

With a 17-game lead in the division to start the day on Wednesday and a six-game lead for the best record in the National League, there is no urgency for the Dodgers to make a determination on Kimbrel’s role in the postseason and Roberts makes it clear that no change is imminent.

“It’s a performance business,” Roberts said. “But with his track record, he’s earned the right to get a longer look. Absolutely. I have no problem with that. But as we get into September, the best pitchers are gonna pitch. That’s just the way it has to be and I think that’s the only right way you manage it.”

By any measure, Kimbrel has not been one of the Dodgers’ best pitchers. He has given up more hits this season (46) than he has in any year since his rookie season in 2011 (48) and is getting fewer swings-and-misses than he has in his career, resulting in more balls in play – and batters are hitting .393 when they put balls in play against him. Only eight times in his 44 appearances this season has Kimbrel not allowed a baserunner.

“I think he’s being too fine at times. And I think he has the ability to be more efficient,” Roberts said. “I think sometimes, to be quite honest, I think he’s chasing the strikeouts instead of chasing outs and I just want to see consistent outs.”

The Dodgers have been down this road before with a once-elite-but-aging closer. They removed Kenley Jansen from the role on their way to the World Series title in 2020.

“I think that’s fair in the sense of, once you get to a certain point on the schedule, the best players should play,” Roberts said of the comparison. “I’m a big believer in the players make the lineup and the players determine who pitches. So that goes to performance.

“I don’t want to get too far ahead of it because he’s our closer and I expect him to figure it out.”

SIXTH MAN

Roberts said rookie right-hander Ryan Pepiot will stay in the starting rotation and make another start even after Dustin May returns on Saturday. The Dodgers will go with a six-man starting rotation for the time being, Roberts said.

In six big-league starts scattered throughout the season, Pepiot has struggled with his command, walking 20 in 25⅓ innings. But he has also struck out 29 and held opposing batters to a .198 average.

“He’s continuing to grow as a big-league pitcher,” Roberts said. “He’s gotta continue to command the fastball. It just needs to continue to get better. The slider has come on, which is good to see. The changeup has taken a couple steps back. With Ryan, the changeup was his best secondary, a plus-plus pitch. But right now, where it’s at, it just hasn’t played.

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“It’s just not in the lane long enough. It’s a ball out of hand whether it’s down or off the plate.”

ALSO

Brusdar Graterol is expected to pitch for Triple-A Oklahoma City in back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday, completing his rehab assignment after going to the injured list with shoulder inflammation. He could be activated by the Dodgers this weekend. …

Lefty reliever Justin Bruihl joined the team in Milwaukee on Wednesday but has not been activated from the taxi squad. …

Infielder Edwin Rios completed his rehab assignment with OKC on Tuesday but he will stay in Triple-A. Rios was activated from the 60-day IL and optioned to Oklahoma City.

UP NEXT

Dodgers (LHP Andrew Heaney, 1-0, 1.16 ERA) at Brewers (RHP Corbin Burnes, 8-5, 2.39 ERA), Thursday, 11:10 a.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM