With one doubleheader in the rearview mirror and another on the horizon, the Los Angeles Dodgers began to plan on utilizing Robbie Erlin, Andre Jackson or Ryan Pepiot for a spot start in the series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Erlin was added to the active roster as the 27th player for the doubleheader at Wrigley Field, and remained with the Dodgers as Justin Bruihl was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City the following day. Erlin then pitched one inning out of the bullpen on Monday.
Jackson has some experience at the Major League level, but signs began to point toward Pepiot being the favorite to face the Pirates as he was added to the taxi squad for the remainder of the road trip.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has now confirmed Pepiot will make his MLB debut at PNC Park on Wednesday, according to David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports:
Dave Roberts confirms @ryanpepiot2 will start tomorrow’s game and make his major league debut. #Dodgers #Pirates https://t.co/lKhr5Z5Q3g
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) May 10, 2022
Pepiot is one of the top prospects in the Dodgers farm system and has performed well for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. His success comes after struggling in OKC upon earning a promotion from Double-A Tulsa last year.
Pepiot’s strong start to the 2022 season earned him Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month honors for April. Across his five starts during that span, the right-hander went 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA.
Pepiot allowed just four earned runs during April — split evenly over two starts — and collected 29 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .182 batting average across 21.2 innings pitched.
Pepiot’s longest start was his most recent outing, during which he completed six innings and allowed two runs. His most dominant performance came April 22, when the Dodgers’ No. 2 pitching prospect had a season-high eight strikeouts and allowed three hits over five innings.
Will Pepiot make two starts for Dodgers?
It’s plausible Pepiot can start the series finale against the Pirates, be optioned the following day and join the team again next week when they play a doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks. L.A. faces a need for a sixth starter — or bullpen game — in one of those contests.
Pepiot would be eligible to get recalled as the 27th player for the doubleheader, which doesn’t require a player to wait the standard 10 days to return after being optioned.
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