how to respond to the question.The Giants had just rallied for four runs with two outs in the ninth inning Monday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ beleaguered bullpen for a 5-2 victory.And then someone asked San Francisco’s manager if he felt sorry for the Dodgers http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-jorge-posada-jersey , whose bullpen lost its fourth consecutive game with closer Kenley Jansen on the disabled list.“Excuse me?” Bochy said.Then came the laughter.The Giants could afford to chuckle after pinch-hitter Nick Hundley drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a single. San Francisco tacked on two more runs after that.“What a great comeback,” Bochy said. “We had some really great at-bats there in the ninth. Hundley, it doesn’t get any more clutch than that. He came through at the right time.“Great comeback on the road. It’s been a while since we have had one like that.”The Giants improved to .500, while the Dodgers fell one game behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the crowded NL West. San Francisco is just five games out of first.The ending was familiar for the Dodgers, who wasted a masterful performance by Clayton Kershaw. The left-hander held the Giants to one run in eight innings, allowing four hits, striking out nine and walking none.And then the bullpen threw it away.“They’re doing the best they can,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “They’re trying to make pitches. They’re in uncharted territory.”Kershaw turned the ninth over to Scott Alexander (2-1), part of the late-inning committee the Dodgers have used since Jansen went on the disabled list Thursday with an irregular heartbeat.The Giants loaded the bases with two outs before Hundley lined a two-run single to center.“Bases loaded, tying run at third, you are afforded the luxury of being aggressive in that spot based on his approach,” Hundley said. “Thankfully I got a good pitch to hit.”Ray Black (2-1) pitched a scoreless eighth for the Giants, and Will Smith worked the ninth to earn his ninth save in 11 opportunities.Kershaw blooped a double to score Los Angeles’ first run, and Justin Turner’s homer gave the Dodgers a brief 2-0 lead.NO RELIEFThe Dodgers have now lost four straight because they lack an obvious replacement for Jansen. Los Angeles was struggling to identify an eighth-inning set-up man and now has no closer.“It’ll turn,” Roberts said. “It’s been a tough four games, but we have to keep getting leads and putting teams away.”ANOTHER LEFTY DUELIt was the 11th time Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner have faced each other, the most of any two active pitchers. Bumgarner allowed two runs in six innings.“The guys did an unbelievable job coming back there,” Bumgarner said. “It was a good game on both sides. (Kershaw) was better than me tonight for sure, but we were better than they were. I think that is a good way to put it.”TRAINER’S ROOMGiants: SS Brandon Crawford left the game in the bottom of the fourth after colliding with OF Gorkys Herndandez on Kershaw’s bloop double. He appeared to take a knee to the head from Hernandez and is on concussion protocol. … 1B Brandon Belt (hyper extended right knee) made a second rehab start Monday, but it was uncertain whether he would rejoin the Giants in Los Angeles on Tuesday. … RHP Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder inflammation) threw a simulated game Monday. Bochy said he threw about 30 pitches.Dodgers: 2B Brian Dozier left the game after the eighth, complaining of dizziness. Roberts said Dozier had an abnormal EKG and was scheduled for additional tests. … John Axford, one of the few relievers with closing experience, is headed for the disabled list. Roberts said Axford had a slight fracture atop his right fibula. “He’ll be down a couple, two or three weeks,” Roberts said.UP NEXTGiants: LHP Andrew Suarez (4-8, 4.64 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday. The rookie will attempt to overcome a recent downturn that has seen him go 1-3 with a 7.43 ERA in his last five starts.Dodgers: LHP Alex Wood (7-6, 3.58) is scheduled to come off the disabled list and make his first start since leaving his Aug. 3 outing with a sore hip. Wood missed only one start. Chicago Cubs:RHP Trevor Clifton(AA/AAA: 20 GS, 5-6, 3.35 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 42 BB, 86 K, 104.2 IP)Once viewed as one of the better arms in a pitching-thin Cubs system, Trevor Clifton saw his stock tumble last season when he went 5-8 with a 5.20 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 100.1 innings at Double-A.MLB.com explained: "He entered last year as the best mound prospect in the upper levels of the system, but returning nearby where he grew up to pitch for Double-A Tennessee proved to be too much of a distraction. He got hammered to the tune of a 7.99 ERA during the final three months, earning a mandate from club officials to get stronger mentally and physically."It appears he's done just that, as an excellent start back at Double-A has earned him his first taste of Triple-A action. The Cubs have already turned to Duane Underwood, Jen-Ho Tseng and Luke Farrell for spot starts with little success, so don't be surprised if Clifton is next.Cincinnati Reds:RHP Jimmy Herget(AAA: 41 G, 1-2, 2.77 ERA Don Larsen Jersey , 1.27 WHIP, 20 BB, 54 K, 48.2 IP)The bullpen has been a strength this season for the rebuilding Reds. They rank 16th in the majors with a 4.04 ERA as a group, and while that might not sound like much, it's a stark improvement over the 4.65 ERA they posted a season ago.Unfortunately, that stability has meant fewer opportunities for someone like Jimmy Herget.A Futures Game participant in 2017, Herget is MLB-ready with a mid-90s fastball, plus slider and a deceptive delivery that helps his already solid stuff play up.The 24-year-old will need to be added to the 40-man roster this winter anyway to be protected from the Rule 5 draft, so that should increase his chances of earning a late promotion.Milwaukee Brewers:LHP Quintin Torres-Costa(AA/AAA: 34 G, 4 SV, 1.45 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 18 BB, 54 K, 43.1 IP)It's unlikely the Brewers would consider calling up top prospect Keston Hiura given the current infield logjam, and top pitching prospect Corbin Burnes is already working out of the big league bullpen, so we have to dig a bit deeper here.Aside from All-Star Josh Hader, the only lefty in the bullpen is Dan Jennings, who has been excellent in middle relief.With a number of potent lefties residing in the NL Central, it wouldn't hurt to add another southpaw to the mix for the stretch run, and Quintin Torres-Costa looks like the leading candidate.A late-round find as a 35th-round pick out of Waiakea High School in Hawaii in 2015, Torres-Costa showed well in the Arizona Fall League last year (10 G, 4.50 ERA, 16 K, 14.0 IP), and he's continued to impress against upper-level competition.Pittsburgh Pirates:RHP Clay Holmes(A+/AAA: 17 GS, 7-3, 3.30 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 38 BB, 100 K, 95.1 IP)The Pirates added a major weapon to the bullpen when they acquired Keone Kela from the Rangers at the trade deadline, but there's still room to improve a unit that ranks 19th in the majors with a 4.21 ERA.While Clay Holmes has been used almost exclusively as a starter since he was selected in the ninth round of the 2011 draft, he has the stuff to be an asset out of the bullpen, even if it's just a temporary move.To that point, MLB.com wrote: "There has been talk about moving Holmes to the bullpen, where that sinker-cutter combination could be extremely effective.For now, he'll likely keep starting as rotation depth so he can fill any kind of role once the need arises in Pittsburgh."The immediate need is in the bullpen, and he's ready to help.St. Louis Cardinals:RHP Giovanny Gallegos(AAA: 20 G, 2 SV http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-johnny-damon-jersey , 3.41 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 10 BB, 44 K, 31.2 IP)Chasen Shreve and Giovanny Gallegos were both acquired in the deal that sent slugging first baseman Luke Voit to the Yankees ahead of the trade deadline. The Cardinals slotted Shreve in the big league bullpen immediately, and Gallegos should soon follow.The 26-year-old has punched out 169 batters in 123 innings at the Triple-A level over parts of the last four seasons, posting a 2.12 ERA and 0.94 WHIP along the way.His fastball/curveball gives him legitimate swing-and-miss stuff and he's already a member of the 40-man roster, so expect to see him in St. Louis at some point before the season is over.NL West6 of 6Shaun AndersonRob Carr/Getty ImagesArizona Diamondbacks:RHP Jimmie Sherfy(AAA: 31 G, 14 SV, 1.30 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 15 BB, 48 K, 34.2 IP)It's a bit puzzling that Jimmie Sherfy has not gotten more of a chance at the MLB level.The 26-year-old was lights-out during the 2017season, posting a 3.12 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 11.2 K/9 in 44 appearances at Triple-A before capping off the year with 10.2 scoreless innings out of the big league bullpen.He's continued to dominate Triple-A hitters this season with his 70-grade fastball and plus curveball, yet he's seen just four innings of work in the majors.The deadline additions of Brad Ziegler and Jake Diekman won't make it any easier for Sherfy to find work. Contenders can always use more bullpen help for the stretch run though, and he'll be ready when the need arises.Colorado Rockies:RHP Peter Lambert(AA/AAA: 21 GS, 10-5, 2.82 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 91 K, 121.1 IP)With Chad Bettis looking extremely rusty in his return to action (4.2 IP, 8 H, 9 ER), the Rockies might need to consider other options for the rotation if he doesn't improve quickly.Peter Lambert is the top pitching prospect in the system, and he's enjoying a breakout season in the upper levels of the minors that hasvaulted him into the top-100 prospect conversation.MLB.com wrote: "Lambert shows the potential for four pitches that could be at least solid. His fastball sits at 92-94 mph and peaks at 96, and he keeps it off barrels with sink, angle and very good command. His tumbling changeup may be his most consistent plus pitch, though his low-80s curveball can be even better than that at times."His 4.71 ERA and 1.79 WHIP in six starts since being promoted to Triple-A gives some reason for pause, but that's largely a result of one brutal start (1.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 ER), and there's little doubt he's capable of making a major impact at the next level.Los Angeles Dodgers:OF Alex Verdugo(AAA: 310 PA, .345/.397/.489, 25 XBH,8 HR, 40 RBI, 36 R)Matt Kemp (64 PA, .179 BA Masahiro Tanaka Jersey , .569 OPS) and Kike Hernandez (51 PA, .146 BA, .409 OPS) have gone ice cold at the plate since the All-Star break, yet both players continue to see regular playing time in the Dodgers outfield.Meanwhile, top prospect Alex Verdugo has once again owned Triple-A pitching, while also posting a .280/.345/.440 line in 56 plate appearances scattered over a handful of call-ups to the majors.The strong first-half performance from Kemp was a pleasant surprise and Hernandez is a valuable utility option off the bench, but if the Dodgers are serious about winning a title, they need to consider giving Verdugo a regular role down the stretch.The status quo doesn't make sense when guys aren't hitting. San Diego Padres:2B Luis Urias(AAA: 461 PA, .273/.383/.415, 35 XBH,8 HR, 39 RBI, 68 R)Is Luis Urias ready to take over the everyday second base job in 2019?That's a question that will need to be answered, and giving the 21-year-old an extended look the rest of the way could help provide some clarity.Carlos Asuaje (209 PA, .198 BA, .569 OPS), Cory Spangenberg (219 PA, .238 BA, .652 OPS) and Jose Pirela (398 PA, .251 BA, .647 OPS) are not long-term pieces of the puzzle.Meanwhile, with a 70-grade hit tool, plus speed and the glove to play on either side of second base, Urias has a chance to be a cornerstone piece in San Diego.San Francisco Giants:RHP Shaun Anderson(AA/AAA: 20 GS, 7-7, 3.74 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 32 BB, 108 K, 118.0 IP)The Giants have been forced to cobble together a starting rotation for much of the season, and with Johnny Cueto lost for the year to Tommy John surgery, that figures to continue the rest of the way.Shaun Anderson has emerged as the best pitching prospect in the system this season, and after earning a promotion to Triple-A, he's knocking on the door.The 23-year-old "has the look of a durable No. 3 starter," according to MLB.com, and giving him a chance to prove himself down the stretch could have an impact on the team's offseason plans. Shoring up the starting staff figures to be a priority, but if Anderson shows well, perhaps they can focus their attention elsewhere. All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs, and accurate through Aug. 7.