Andrew Heaney has been part of the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation for the entirety of the 2022 season but could be in line for a role change come the playoffs.
Although it was Tyler Anderson who formed a tandem with Gonsolin during the first month of the season, the expectation is Heaney could shift to a bullpen role. That possibility appeared more likely when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Anderson earned a spot in the postseason rotation.
Meanwhile, Heaney’s next scheduled turn in the rotation was Thursday, against the San Diego Padres in the series finale at Petco Park. However, he won’t start and instead is due to appear out of the bullpen at some point.
The Dodgers are utilizing Brusdar Graterol as an opener. The start is Graterol’s first of the season but fourth in his career.
Pitching in relief is not completely foreign to Heaney, who does have experience coming out of the bullpen from his brief stint with the New York Yankees last year.
In 14 starts, the left-hander is 3-3 with a 3.06 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 1.08 WHIP and 13.5 strikeouts per nine across 64.2 innings pitched.
While Heaney has been effective for the most part this season, he is in the midst of a rough patch, having allowed 12 home runs over his last seven appearances.
“I think the main adjustment with these homers is he’s making mistakes in the middle of the plate,” Roberts said of Heaney’s struggles with the home run ball.
“I think there’s some sequencing things we can kind of clean up going forward,” said Roberts. “But as long as he’s healthy, the stuff is good, and I’ll bet on the command going forward.”
Dodgers may use Andrew Heaney & Tony Gonsolin in same postseason game
As the Dodgers evaluate potential playoff roles, one scenario being considered is Heaney and Tony Gonsolin pitching in the same game. “Yes, it could certainly play out that way,” Roberts said earlier this week.
“In the postseason, you just can’t script it. You can’t. As much as people want to think that you can, there’s a lot of things that happen and there’s no guarantee with how that guy is throwing that day.
“Then you’ve got to kind of pivot. So could that scenario play out? Absolutely.”
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