While the Los Angeles Dodgers were down to deciding between Brandon McCarthy and Alex Wood for the final spot in their starting rotation, the odds appeared to be tilted in McCarthy’s favor. Wood, unlike the right-hander, had notable experience pitching out of the bullpen.
Thus, the Dodgers began the season with a rotation comprised of Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda, Rich Hill, McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Wood was placed in the bullpen as a long reliever.
But injuries and the team’s willingness to exercise extreme caution and utilize the 10-day disabled list has turned the rotation into a group of whichever five starters are available for any stretch of time.
Case in point is Wood, who made his sixth start of the season on Saturday night. He’s twice moved into the rotation to take the spot of Hill, who’s been saddled by blister trouble.
With McCarthy (Monday) and Hill (Tuesday), Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wood will remain in the starting rotation, per Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
Alex Wood will stay in the rotation when Rich Hill and Brandon McCarthy come back next week, Dave Roberts said.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) May 14, 2017
The 26-year-old held the Colorado Rockies scoreless over six innings at Coors Field. Wood scattered five hits and recorded 10 strikeouts to one walk. That came on the heels of the southpaw racking up 11 strikeouts in five innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 8.
It was the first time in Wood’s career he’s had back-to-back starts with double-digit strikeouts. Wood’s strikeout rate is at a career-best 33.1 percent and so too are his 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
Overall this season, Wood is 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in eight games (six starts). He has 48 strikeouts to 11 walks over 35.2 innings pitched.
Wood recently said one key to his success has been finding a rhythm that’s been a byproduct of establishing consistency in a routine.
