With the start of Spring Training delayed one month due to the MLB lockout, it led to schedule changes once a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was ratified last week.
Rather than face the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park for their 2022 Cactus League opener, the Dodgers’ exhibition schedule instead begins with matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch.
That’s among the nine games the Dodgers are playing at their Spring Training facility this year, but one of those — March 21 — is as the designated road team.
With the Dodgers taking a cautious approach to building their pitcher’s workloads over the next two-plus weeks, non-roster invitee Beau Burrows is expected to start against the Brewers, per Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA:
#Dodgers Dave Roberts said RHP Beau Burrows will likely start #CactusLeague game vs. Brewers on Friday
— Kirsten Watson (@kirsten_watson) March 16, 2022
The Dodgers signed Burrows to a Minor League one week before the lockout began. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, and made his MLB debut with the organization in 2020.
Burrows pitched to a 5.40 ERA across five appearances that season, then allowed four runs over 1.2 innings in his only appearance with the Tigers last year. He was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins in June and posted a 12.54 ERA across 9.1 innings and five games (one start).
Burrows spent most of the 2021 season with the Tigers and Twins’ Triple-A affiliates, with whom he posted a combined 5.10 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with 65 strikeouts against 28 walks in 65.1 innings pitched (22 appearances, 10 starts).
Who will Dodgers start on 2022 Opening Day?
The starting pitcher in the Dodgers’ first game of Spring Training doesn’t always align with who takes the ball on Opening Day, which will certainly be the case this season.
However, the Dodgers are yet to indicate who will start the season opener against the Colorado Rockies on April 8. Clayton Kershaw has made nine Opening Day starts, a Dodgers franchise record.
L.A. is 7-2 in those games, with their losses coming to the San Francisco Giants in 2018, and Rockies last year.
If Kershaw is not tabbed for Opening Day, the Dodgers presumably would hand the ball to Walker Buehler if successfully completes a normal progression during camp.
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