While the Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to settle their starting rotation, it is guaranteed to feature Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw in some order. The season will begin with Kershaw extending his franchise record of Opening Day starts to nine.
Whether he’s followed by Bauer, Buehler or another starter in the second game of the series against the Colorado Rockies has not been revealed. In the meantime, after having the likes of Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Jimmy Nelson and David Price make relief appearances, Bauer now does so on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
He’ll follow Kershaw, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicating both pitchers are expected to log three or four innings. “He doesn’t care about the ego of starting,” Roberts began to explain of Bauer being scheduled to pitch out of the bullpen.
“He can get his prep work before the game and while Clayton is pitching. The main thing for these guys, looking out at off days and things like that, his schedule was for him to pitch [Tuesday]. He had no problem piggybacking to get his four innings in.”
Bauer has allowed just one run over 8.1 innings pitched across three Cactus League starts this year. Kershaw also has given up one run, but in five innings over two starts.
Kershaw first Dodgers pitcher to bat
The Dodgers now are in their third week of Cactus League play and Tuesday will mark the first time any of their pitchers bat. “Clayton’s going to take an at-bat [Tuesday] and then we’ll replace him with a DH after his one at-bat,” Roberts said.
“As far as days coming, we’ll kind of see.”
Although there had been some belief MLB and the Players Association would again reach a deal to implement a universal designated hitter, every recent indication has been no such agreement will be put into place for the 2021 season.
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