Kopech came in with a 4-2 lead to the start the seventh and got Jake Cronenworth to ground out after three straight pitches around the zone. His control disappeared afterwards, and with no idea where the ball was going, he brushed back Elias Díaz three times in his plate appearance. Kopech fared a little better on the next walk to Fernando Tatis Jr., but he was then pulled with the bases loaded. Fortunately for the Dodgers, Anthony Banda came in and got Luis Arraez to pop up and Manny Machado to ground out (on a 3-0 pitch) to end the threat.

It wasn’t a save situation because the Dodgers led by four runs, but Kopech finished the game for Los Angeles with Kirby Yates pitching in the seventh inning and Tanner Scott in the eighth inning. Does this mean Kopech is the closer now? Well, maybe, but at the very least he’s firmly in the mix for saves, which muddies the situation for all three relievers.

Kopech returns to Los Angeles’ overworked relief corps after missing 10 weeks at the outset of the season recovering from a shoulder impingement. The hard-throwing 29-year-old righty was a certifiable weapon last year after coming over from the White Sox at the trade deadline, compiling a stellar 1.13 ERA and six saves across 24 innings of work. He could factor in the club’s closing mix at some point in the coming weeks, but will likely handle lower-leverage work right out of the gate.