While Alex Wood finished last season in the bullpen, he reported to Spring Training among the pitchers vying for the two available spots in the starting rotation. Once Hyun-Jin Ryu was tapped as a starter, Brandon McCarthy and Wood were left to compete for the fifth starter’s job.
That broke in McCarthy’s favor, in part due to Wood’s experience and success as a reliever. His time in the bullpen did not last long, however. Rich Hill’s chronic blister trouble has put Wood in the rotation — twice.
On Monday the 26-year-old made a third consecutive start. Wood only went five innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he finished with a season-high 11 strikeouts.
“It felt good, I had all three (pitches) going, and it obviously helped we scored all those runs,” Wood said after the outing. The Dodgers led 6-0 after the first inning, buoyed by a Chris Taylor grand slam.
“It’s not as much pressure where you feel like you have to put zeros up all the time,” Wood said of pitching with a comfortable lead. “But at the same time you kind of have to focus a little harder when a game gets out of hand like that.”
Ross Stripling and Adam Liberatore combined to throw four innings in relief, with three coming from Stripling. Wood tossed 88 pitches, his second-highest total this season.
“I would’ve liked to have gone back out for the sixth, but Doc wanted to get some guys some work,” he said. “It’s [Roberts’] decision, and I support it.” Roberts hoped to send Wood back to the mound in the sixth inning, but went in a different direction because an error in the fifth pushed Wood’s pitch count.
“He threw the ball well. Got through five innings, 11 strikeouts, really had good command and competed,” Roberts said.
On the season, Wood is now 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 29.2 innings over seven games (five starts). His outing Monday night was a third consecutive start.
“Consistency for me has been the biggest thing,” Wood said. “It’s not hard going from the rotation to the ‘pen, because you only throw an inning or two, maybe three. But going back from the ‘pen to the rotation, even if you skip and go eight or 10 days without starting, it’s tough to get into a groove.
“It’s been nice to have two or three in a row, where I can do my normal routine and go about it from there.”
