Although the Los Angeles Dodgers did not make the big splash most expected from them at the July 31 trade deadline, the club nonetheless was active in addressing their bullpen and shoring up roster depth.
Among their transactions was to acquire Jedd Gyorko from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Tony Cingrani and Jeffry Abreu. Gyorko was on the 60-day injured list at the time of the trade and still one week away from being eligible to be reinstated.
Gyroko spent a couple days at Dodger Stadium before embarking on a rehab assignment with Double-A Tulsa. He then joined Triple-A Oklahoma City before meeting the Dodgers at SunTrust Park.
According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, Gyorko will make his Dodgers debut in the series finale against the Braves and manager Dave Roberts formally named Tony Gonsolin the starter:
Tony Gonsolin starts Sunday.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 17, 2019
Jedd Gyorko will be activated and start on Sunday.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 17, 2019
The pitching change is a second within a week’s time, as Clayton Kershaw and Dustin May were previously swapped in the rotation order. That left May on track to face the Braves, though Roberts said the decision did not stem from a potential postseason matchup.
Days later, Roberts indicated Gonsolin was a candidate to make a second career start when he announced May would not make his previously scheduled turn in the rotation. Although May is not starting, he still is slated to pitch Sunday, just doing so out of the bullpen.
The Dodgers continue to evaluate both pitching prospects in anticipation of needing to make roster decisions come the postseason. Gonsolin has more experience with pitching out of the bullpen than May does by virtue of being a former reliever.
Gonsolin has appeared in three games for the Dodgers, making two starts sandwiched around a four-inning save. Sunday’s game will mark May’s first relief appearance in his young career.
The Dodgers will require corresponding moves to recall Gonsolin from Triple-A Oklahoma City and activate Gyorko from the 60-day injured list.
