It was a two run game and they needed a single out. You're way underestimating how quickly late inning guys can get taxed when you go 2 weeks without a true day off. Like 90+% of bullpen usage criticism, it's missing the forest for the trees. So if they get taxed, stop using them until they are untaxed. Again: You're intentionally entering into the downside you are purporting to avoid. The leverage index when Schlitter entered the game was 2.47. That's plenty to qualify it for your best relievers. Using Schlitter for a single out in that situation is far better than the downside I'm purporting to avoid. Maddon tried to get through the 7th without using one of his 3 best relievers, probably because today is one of many consecutive games and he knows better than to manage each game like it's a play in game. Without Holbrook's buffoonery it would have worked splendidly. There's room to disagree here, but bullpen usage criticism is a pet peeve of mine. So much of it is reactionary silliness built on the idea that any blown lead is a failure and that every game should be optimized for the best relievers pitching until they have to have a day off and then they're unavailable. Both are nonsense. This is an interesting discussion. Is the thinking that, you shouldn't use your best relievers in really short outings unless it's just a crazy high leverage situation?