In the days leading up to the start of the postseason, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated on multiple occasions the team was likely to take an unorthodox approach with their pitching staff because of injuries to Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Blake Treinen.
Specifically with Gonsolin, the Dodgers planned on his potential start in the National League Division Series being part of a piggyback scenario — likely with Andrew Heaney following out of the bullpen. While Gonsolin is due to start Game 3 on Friday, the Dodgers have revised their pitching approach.
“Certainly there’s going to be some restrictions on Tony. I don’t know what they are right now. I know that he’s built upwards to 75 pitches,” Roberts said during the off day.
“We’ll see how it goes with his stuff and effectiveness. I think the good thing about our ‘pen coming off an off day, is Dustin is back online, Andrew Heaney is back online, and the other guys are available.
“I think for us, it sort of depends where Tony comes out, what’s the score and all that stuff. There’s not necessarily a person or persons that has to take bulk. I just think I’m going to make decisions that gives us the best chance to win and to prevent runs.”
Roberts went on to add, “I don’t see it as a piggyback situation. I see it as a collection of arms.”
With that, the Dodgers are hopeful to avoid using several relief pitchers after Gonsolin is removed from the start. Particularly with the potential of playing three consecutive games without an off day.
“I think obviously the less amount of pitchers as you can use in a plus-game, I think that’s ideal. But then you’ve got to bake in leverage and matchups to kind of keep preventing runs,” Roberts said.
“Obviously less is more, but if we have to use six arms, we’ll do that.”
Dodgers prioritizing flexibility with Dustin May
Like Gonsolin, May is not stretched out to a full workload, but whether he may be used in a high-leverage situation or pitch multiple innings has not been decided.
Roberts has only said the Dodgers are open to utilizing May in a several different scenarios.
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