The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Mitch White and optioned Tony Gonsolin prior to Saturday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gonsolin was removed from the active roster one day after making his 2020 debut.
Gonsolin was selected for a spot start in place of Alex Wood, who is on the injured list and temporarily shut down from baseball activities due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder. Gonsolin’s start at Chase Field marked his first game of the year and it of course was where the right-hander made his MLB debut last season.
Friday’s outing was much better than Gonsolin’s first ever game in the Majors, as he allowed just one hit and issued a walk over four scoreless innings. The hit was a Ketel Marte double that Mookie Betts erased by throwing him out on an attempt to stretch it to a triple.
“Got to give props to Mookie right there. That’s a great throw,” Gonsolin said after the game. I appreciated him picking me up.”
He acknowledged feeling more comfortable this year than last season and was pleased with his start. “Could’ve done a little better job executing, but overall I did great,” Gonsolin said.
White gives the Dodgers a fresh arm in a bullpen that continues to get plenty of work because length from starters remains somewhat of an issue. Gonsolin reached the best-case scenario of four innings, but Wood, Julio Urias and Dustin May have each failed to pitch deep into games.
White was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster last November. He was selected in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft, and across five different Minor League levels is a career 14-15 with a 3.97 ERA.
The 25-year-old spent last season with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, going a combined 4-6 with a 5.09 ERA.
White’s stay potentially briefly
The Dodgers have rotated several pitchers on and off their active roster this week. Josh Sborz was recalled Tuesday when Wood was sidelined, then Victor Gonzalez joined the club (in place of Terrance Gore) on Thursday, and Gonsolin’s arrival on Friday meant Sborz was optioned.
White could likely suffer a similar fate with Clayton Kershaw due to be activated Sunday for a start in the series finale against the Diamondbacks.
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