Dodger BlueDodger BlueDodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Font ResizerAa
Dodger BlueDodger Blue
Font ResizerAa
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Dodgers News > Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Places Emphasis On Starting Pitching, Not Bullpen
Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Places Emphasis On Starting Pitching, Not Bullpen

Matthew Moreno
April 15, 2016
3 Min Read
Scott-kazmir-dave-roberts-dodgers-2016-spring-training
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
SHARE

Heading into the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting pitching was a bit of a question mark. The rotation was filled with ambiguity after Zack Greinke left for the Arizona Diamondbacks and injuries sidelined the likes of Brett Anderson and Mike Bolsinger, while Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu remained on the comeback trail from last year’s surgeries.

Questions centered around the rotation’s depleted depth, and whether the Dodgers should call on one of their highly-touted prospects in Jose De Leon or Julio Urias as the fifth starter. The club instead went with Ross Stripling, their fifth-round pick in the 2012 draft.

Through the first 10 games of the season, Dodgers’ starting pitchers have a combined 2.45 ERA, which ranks third-best in the Majors. Their 0.88 WHIP and .185 opponent’s batting average are both ranked second overall.

Even though Los Angeles starters have gone a combined 4-1, the club continues to be plagued by an inconsistent bullpen. After Pedro Baez and Chris Hatcher recently failed to protect a slim lead, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he wasn’t yet ready to change rolls.

On the night Kenley Jansen recorded the first five-out save of his career, Roberts again discussed his bullpen, but made it clear that the rotation will be the difference in the long run, via Doug Padilla of ESPN:

“I think that people talk a lot about the pen and what the Royals did, shortening the game and all of that stuff, but at the core of winning a championship it’s about starting pitching,” Roberts said. “You have to pitch and you have to lean on those guys and you have to catch the baseball for them. So to have a great outing from each of these guys at some point, it’s good for them, it’s good for us and we will lean on those guys.”

After Ross Stripling turned in six innings on Thursday, J.P. Howell and Yimi Garcia combined for two innings of relief, allowing a combined one hit and collecting three strikeouts. Jansen then shut the door in the ninth to earn a second consecutive save.

Now Los Angeles gets another look at the rival San Francisco Giants in a three-game series that begins Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers held a lead in three of the four games played at AT&T Park last week, but only came away with one win.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Dave RobertsLos Angeles Dodgers
ByMatthew Moreno
Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Executive Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Justin Turner Compares Alex Verdugo To Yasiel Puig In Praising Rookie Outfielder

October 8, 2019
October 8, 2019
Recap Of Clayton Kershaw’s Ping Pong 4 Purpose, Hosted By Will Ferrell
Dodgers News

Recap Of Clayton Kershaw’s Ping Pong 4 Purpose, Hosted By Will Ferrell

August 13, 2016
March 23, 2020
Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman, Farhan Zaidi Refute Notion Dave Roberts Is Provided With Guidelines To Manage By

November 10, 2017
January 14, 2020
Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Yasiel Puig Mourns Tragic Deaths Of Former MLB Infielders Luis Valbuena, Jose Castillo

December 8, 2018
December 8, 2018

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어