The Los Angeles Dodgers entered Spring Training with some questions to answer. Outside of wondering if Joc Pederson and/or Yasiel Puig will bounce back from their struggles in 2015, there’s some uncertainty in the starting rotation.
Zack Greinke’s departure left a sizable hole in the rotation, which Los Angeles is attempting to fill with the signings of Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda. While the new additions add more depth to the starting staff, it also means one pitcher is likely to get bumped to the bullpen.
However, that won’t be the case through at least the first month of the regular season as Hyun-Jin Ryu isn’t expected to return from last year’s shoulder surgery until May.
What is currently set is Clayton Kershaw will start the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch.
To no surprise, Kershaw was also named the Opening Day starter. Meanwhile, Maeda is scheduled to make his debut on Saturday in the Dodgers’ third game of Spring Training.
Based on current throwing schedules, which now includes live batting practice, the Dodgers rotation aligns as such: Kershaw, Kazmir, Maeda, Brett Anderson and Alex Wood. However, first-year manager Dave Roberts cautioned that’s not yet been finalized, according to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
#Dodgers rotation currently lines up Kershaw-Kazmir-Maeda-Anderson-Wood. But Dave Roberts said that is "definitely not set in stone.”
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 29, 2016
Assuming full-health on the starting staff, it’s been widely presumed Wood is the pitcher most likely to be sent to the bullpen. The competitive southpaw, however, is going through camp with the mindset he will be part of the rotation no matter the situation.
While Roberts has not yet made it official, it’s expected Kazmir will start for the Dodgers on Friday when they face the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium.
