As the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to evaluate their options for a Game 3 starter in the Wild Card Series and overall postseason rotation, the team is planning on getting separate looks at Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May in their final two games.
Already this week the Dodgers moved Julio Urias to the bullpen so he could enter as a bulk relief pitcher rather than make a scheduled start. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated the club was considering possibly doing the same with Gonsolin on Saturday and May in Sunday’s game.
However, the Dodgers decided on having Gonsolin making his scheduled start in the second game of the weekend set with the L.A. Angels. That doesn’t apply to May, who will fill the bulk role that Urias did.
“It’s more of opponent-driven,” Roberts explained of the thought process behind deciding on a start or using a pitcher to eat innings out of the bullpen. “You look at Julio and Tony, they’re more neutral as far as their splits. Where Dustin is more dominant against right and then not as dominant against left.
“So I think the opponent certainly matters; that’s kind of the main driver. They’ve all shown they can pitch well out of the ‘pen.”
After filling in for Clayton Kershaw on Opening Day and making a string of nine starts, May pitched out of the bullpen agains the San Diego Padres on Sept. 16. It was his first outing since being hit in the left foot by a comebacker six days prior to that.
May pitched 5.1 innings at Petco Park and looked comfortable despite the role change. “I feel confident,” he said after the impressive appearance. “I had a lot of experience last year, so I’m totally fine. I came out of the gate firing, just knowing I had to be ready from pitch one.”
Dodgers postseason rotation order
In addition to the Dodgers not yet naming a potential Game 3 starter for the Wild Card round, which Roberts said would be based on opponent, the club also has not announced an order for Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw.
Buehler returned from the 10-day injured list Thursday and pitched without any signs of being affected by his troublesome blister. Kershaw started Friday in his final outing of the regular season.
“I don’t think it’s a big deal to them. I think they have such a mutual respect for one another that it really doesn’t matter,” Roberts said of who starts Game 1.
“It’s more of me, the coaches, front office, talking about what’s going to give us the best chance in that series, what puts them in the best position to be optimally ready, and looking out as well.”
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