With the injuries in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation this season, Ben Casparius was stretched out to move into a starting pitcher role.
At the time, Casparius was arguably the top reliever in the bullpen and has experience as a stater, so it made sense to give him the opportunity.
But things have gone south since that point. In his three starts at various points this season, Casparius tossed a combined 9.2 innings while allowing seven runs, amounting to a 6.52 ERA.
Now with Emmet Sheehan likely getting recalled on Sunday and Tyler Glasnow close to joining the team after potentially making his final rehab start, Casparius is set to move back into the role where he thrived.
“What’s going to happen with Ben, and obviously with Emmet coming, he’ll probably go to the ‘pen,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the team’s blowout loss to the Houston Astros on Friday.
“Get him back to shortening him up a little bit. To kind of get him into the starter role was of need. He did that, but getting him back in the ‘pen, shortening him up, I think the stuff will play up a little bit more too.”
Casparius’ first game as a pseudo starter saw him hold the San Diego Padres to just one run over four innings on June 11. But in four appearances (one start) since then, he has given up 17 runs on 25 hits, including six home runs, across 15.2 innings.
As a reliever, Casparius has been far better, although his multi-inning bulk roles have dragged his ERA up to 4.32.
When facing hitters for the first time in a game as a reliever, Casparius has posted a 3.05 ERA across 38.1 innings. When facing batters the second time through the order as a reliever, his ERA jumps to 8.71.
A similar trend happens when starting. The first time facing hitters as a starter, Casparius has pitched to a 4.50 ERA, but the second time through the order his ERA has jumped to 9.82.
Getting Casparius back into a role where he only faces hitters once a game, even if going multiple innings, would prove beneficial.
With that, the Dodgers have also moved Justin Wrobleski into their bulk role following Shohei Ohtani, a spot that was previously occupied by Casparius.
When will Emmet Sheehan and Tyler Glasnow return?
Sheehan is likely to start for the Dodgers on Sunday, taking one of their open rotation spots. Glasnow could be an option to return next week.
Given the off day next Thursday, Glasnow could be an option to start on Wednesday, July 11, against the Milwaukee Brewers, or some time in the series against the San Francisco Giants beginning next Friday.
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