Matt Borelli (@MattDodgerBlue):
With Camelback Ranch in the rearview mirror, the biggest surprise of Spring Training has been Kenta Maeda’s seamless transition to the Major Leagues.
While he isn’t expected to produce at an ace-type level, he certainly looks like a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm at the very least. In a small sample size (19 innings), Maeda posted a 1.89 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, with 18 strikeouts compared to five walks.
More impressively, the movement of his pitches look crisp and he should really benefit from Yasmani Grandal’s pitch-framing ability throughout the course of the season.
Jared Massey (@JarredJMassey):
The biggest issue with the Dodgers heading into Opening Day is the team’s overall health. Losing Anderson and Ethier was bad enough, but Grandal and Kendrick remain question marks as camp broke on Wednesday.
The Dodgers were built around depth, but it’s evaporating daily with each new injury. The team will only be as competitive as injuries allow it to be. If more injuries strike, the front office could be forced into a difficult position where making a trade or calling up a prospect would turn from last resort into their only options.
