While the Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to announce a complete starting rotation, Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda and Rich Hill are locks to make up the first 60 percent. Maeda was slated as the club’s third starter until a change bumped him to second in order to break up left-handers Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill.
The change came during a time where Maeda went nine days between Cactus League starts. The Dodgers’ first off day of the spring fell on Maeda’s turn in the rotation, he pitched a day earlier in a simulated game on a backfield at Camelback Ranch.
After starts on March 13 and 18, the right-hander was again held out of a Major League game. Maeda pitched in a Minor League contest on Friday, achieving the goal of stretching out to six innings, per Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA:
Maeda's line on backfield: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R…76 P, 1 BB, 9 K
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) March 24, 2017
While it did not come in a Cactus League game, the outing is the longest of the spring for Maeda. It’s also the equivalent to which Kershaw stretched out in his start against the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
If taking into account the Minor League game, Maeda has thrown 18 innings across four starts this spring. He’s aligned for a final tuneup prior to the regular season beginning. Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt traditionally ensures that start is an abridged outing.
Last year, Maeda threw four innings against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in his final spring start.
