Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Tony Gonsolin will be recalled to make a spot start on Sunday afternoon against the Texas Rangers.
Dustin May is starting the series opener on Friday night, followed by Ross Stripling on Saturday and then Gonsolin in the series finale. Julio Urias, who was the originally scheduled pitcher for Sunday, is being pushed back to Tuesday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
This will mark Gonsolin’s fourth start of the season as he has been filling in whenever needed. He has been outstanding for the Dodgers to this point, tossing 14.2 shutout innings while allowing just six hits with 12 strikeouts and two walks in his first three starts.
With Walker Buehler going on the 10-day injured list with a blister, Gonsolin could have had an opportunity to start the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants.
However, he threw 99 pitches in an intrasquad scrimmage on Monday, taking him out of the running to start that game so the Dodgers turned to their bullpen to cover all seven innings instead. Roberts explained the Dodgers had anticipated Buehler being able to make his scheduled start.
Gonsolin is not believed to be joining the rotation on a full-time basis, but rather inserting him again allows the Dodgers to provide their starters with an extra day of rest between outings.
Rios on verge of returning
One of the Dodgers’ other injured players is Edwin Rios, who was recently placed on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain.
The injury was not believed to be all that serious, but the minimum 10 days have passed and Rios has not yet been activated. Roberts gave an update on how he is doing, and it looks like his return could be just around the corner.
“He took some more at-bats [Thursday]. I think he’s getting better every day. He won’t be active when we’re in Texas, we have the off day Monday, and just hoping things go as planned, to see him activated after that off day,” Roberts said.
Rios has also been outstanding for L.A. to start this season, hitting .276/.323/.690 with three home runs and six RBI in limited playing time across 14 games.
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