The Los Angeles Dodgers front office and coaching staff have some decisions to make this spring in regards to the pitching staff, as there currently are 10 pitchers capable of making the starting rotation.
Three of those spots are locked up in the form of Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda. That leaves seven candidates vying to fill out the remaining 40 percent of the rotation.
Among those seven are veterans returning from injury, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Plus young pitchers Brock Stewart, Ross Stripling and Julio Urias, and another returning from injury in Alex Wood.
Wood may hold a slight advantage over the others as far as making the 25-man roster, as he has also been effective as a reliever in the past.
The 26-year-old recently commented on that, saying that while he feels he deserves to be in the starting rotation, he would accept a relief role, via Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
“The reason I can fit in the bullpen is because I’ve done it before,” Wood said. “I’m fine if that’s what I’m asked to do. That’s the way I’ve always been. Do I think that’s where I should be? No, to be candid. And that’s how everybody feels.”
Wood was limited to just 14 games (10 starts) in 2016 due to an elbow injury. Prior to the injury he was pitching at arguably the best level of his career. Wood finished the year 1-4 with a 3.73 ERA, 3.18 FIP and 1.26 WHIP.
He has pitched twice this spring, giving a combined up four hits and two runs while striking out three in four innings of work. Both of the runs came in his first outing. Wood threw two scoreless frames in relief on Thursday against the Cleveland Indians.
While there is still plenty of time for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and the front office to decide who the fourth and fifth starters will be, Kazmir, McCarthy, Ryu and Urias are the perceived favorites.
