The projected Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation is largely set, especially with the team planning to only utilize five pitchers until Shohei Ohtani is ready to take the mound.
Assuming health, the Dodgers’ rotation to begin the 2025 season will feature locks in the form of Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki. Beyond that quartet, however, is a Spring Training competition to determine the Dodgers’ fifth starter.
According to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group, manager Dave Roberts said Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Bobby Miller are competing to round out the Dodgers rotation:
“It’s gonna be interesting. They are fighting (for a spot),” Roberts said.
It’s possible for Gonsolin or May to end up in the Dodgers bullpen if neither is selected as the fifth starter.
Gonsolin and May are both looking to return from respective injuries this season, and Miller is eyeing a bounce-back campaign after struggling throughout 2024.
Gonsolin made a late push to potentially pitch for the Dodgers in the postseason, whereas that was not a probability afforded to May or Miller.
May was on track to return during the second half of the 2024 season but his outlook changed due to needing emergency esophageal surgery. The right-hander otherwise had been out since May 2023 because of a flexor tendon and Tommy John revision surgery. May previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021.
Meanwhile, Gonsolin is coming back from Tommy John surgery performed at the beginning of September in 2023.
An added wrinkle is the Dodgers are not able to option May to the Minors without his consent because he already has accrued more than five years of Major League service time. May otherwise has three option years remaining but is due to become a free agent this winter.
Blake Snell mentoring Bobby Miller
The front of the Dodgers rotation is going to be led by Snell, who has taken on a mentor role with Miller. When discussing their newfound relationship, Roberts said Snell explained seeing a lot of his younger self in Miller.
Miller emerged as a key contributor for the Dodgers upon making his MLB debut in 2023 but couldn’t replicate that success last year. One factor could have been Miller pitching through a left knee injury.
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