The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped their series opener with the Houston Astros on Friday, failing to scratch across a run in a 5-0 shutout at Minute Maid Park.
Gavin Stone made his 19th start of the regular season, turning in six innings, allowing four earned runs on nine hits. It was the second time in July that he allowed nine hits in a start, his last coming against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 10.
Stone has been rock solid in his sophomore season with the Dodgers, however, in four starts this month, he’s posted a 6.27 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and a .369 batting average allowed.
The 25-year-old detailed that it comes down to executing, rather than pointing to physical issues that may have impacted his recent performance, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Stone dismissed any question of fatigue as he nears a career high in innings – “I probably feel better now than what I did in the beginning of the year” – but did acknowledge hitters have probably adjusted to him.
“There are some opportunities where you just have to make better pitches and that’s pretty much it, just making better pitches in certain situations,” he said.
Stone is, and will continue to be, a key part of the Dodgers’ starting rotation. Manager Dave Roberts seconded that notion, reinforcing the belief that he’ll be a big piece down the stretch:
“It’s a learning curve,” Roberts said. “Like I told him in the dugout, I’m sure he’s frustrated with giving up runs. But for a young pitcher to be able to not give away the farm and keep us relatively in the ballgame and to not go four innings but to go six innings – that’s a positive.
“We’re going to continue to run him out there. He’s got to continue to grow and get better. When you’re learning on the fly, it’s not easy to do. It’s not easy. As we know, those hitters are good over there.”
Stone owns a 3.34 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, with 82 strikeouts over 107.2 innings pitched. On Friday, he registered 13 whiffs, throwing his hardest pitch of the season at 98.2 mph.
The Dodgers haven’t seen anything to be concerned about Stone’s recent cold spell, chalking it up to the grind of a long season and how to adapt from start-to-start.
Dodgers approach to making additions to help Gavin Stone and rest of starting rotation
The Dodgers are dealing with one of the most injury-depleted starting rotations in Major League Baseball, utilizing a number of young arms from their farm system.
With current trade prices being relatively high in a buyer’s market, the Dodgers’ supposed interest in Chicago White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet and Detroit Tigers start Tarik Skubal could be all for naught. Transitioning to the secondary arms might be a better play, with Tigers righty Jack Flaherty being a solid arm with top-end potential.
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