Last season the Los Angeles Dodgers tied franchise marks by using 55 different players and 31 pitchers. That was in relation to the club setting an MLB record by placing 28 players on the disabled list throughout the course of the year.
The Dodgers figure to once again rely on their organizational depth in 2017, though are hopeful to avoid doing so at such an extreme rate. They began the season with six players on the disabled list; five of which are pitchers.
On Friday, the Dodgers out Rich Hill on the 10-day DL because of a blister on his left middle finger. That left a void in the rotation for Monday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.
According to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group, Alex Wood was informed he will make the start:
No surprise– Alex Wood has been told he will start for #Dodgers Monday in Chicago.
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 8, 2017
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously indicated the club was deciding between Ross Stripling and Wood, while Julio Urias was not considered a candidate to start Monday. Stripling threw 15 pitches in 1.1 innings in relief during Friday’s loss.
The Cubs are sending Jon Lester to the mound in their home opener. Jake Arrieta was previously scheduled to face the Dodgers in the series opener, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon elected to ensure he’d start two left-handers in the three-game series.
Wood went 1-4 with a 3.99 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and had 62 strikeouts in 56.1 innings pitched across 10 starts last season. Upon returning in September from elbow surgery, he threw four scoreless innings in as many relief appearances.
In his lone game last season against the Cubs, a start on May 30, Wood threw five innings, allowed two runs on seven hits, issued three walks and had seven strikeouts. It was his final start of the season.
Wood’s only work this season came Wednesday, when he threw two scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres, earning rave reviews from Roberts.
