Considering the number of starting pitchers the Los Angeles Dodgers reported to Spring Training with, at least one was expected to be bumped to the bullpen. Just prior to breaking camp, the club settled on Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu as their fourth and fifth starters, respectively.
That relegated Alex Wood to a relief role. Had Scott Kazmir not opened the season on the 10-day disabled list, it’s conceivable he too would’ve been placed in the bullpen, which may have pushed Wood to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Wood always seemed the likely candidate to be utilized as a reliever, considering he has experience in that capacity. Wood threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen in his regular season debut on Wednesday.
“Woody, having him in the ‘pen is a weapon,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said this week. “We have him for length and he’s going to be a guy I trust in high-leverage situations.
In addition to not allowing a hit during the relief appearance, Wood’s velocity was up a tick from the low 90s he generally sits in. The 28-year-old even touched 95 mph with one fastball.
“Sometimes guys go from starters into the bullpen and their stuff plays up,” Roberts said. “I know he hadn’t pitched in a while, so he was like a caged lion. He was dominant. Again, I can’t say enough about Alex to embrace whatever role we have for him.”
Although Wood has accepted a move to the bullpen, he was unabashed in voicing his belief that he be included in the starting rotation. That may come to fruition earlier than the Dodgers — and Wood — expected.
The club needs a spot starter Monday now that Rich Hill was placed on the 10-day disabled list because of a blister on his left middle finger. Roberts said Wood is among the options being considered.
