Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to start against the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day, but beyond that the Los Angeles Dodgers have not formally set their rotation. All manager Dave Roberts has offered is the club will begin the season with a five-man starting rotation.
But based on order of appearances in intrasquad games and bullpen sessions thrown, the Dodgers figure to align their starters as Kershaw, Ross Stripling, Julio Urias, Alex Wood and Walker Buehler.
Kershaw, Stripling and Wood are each built up to provide normal length their first time out. Urias — and in particular Buehler — are further behind, and therefore splitting them to help protect against heavy bullpen usage would be a sound approach.
Under the notion that is the order the Dodgers will begin the season with, it puts Buehler on track to face the Houston Astros on July 28 in the opener of a two-game series at Minute Maid Park.
With Buehler at-best being stretched out to provide four innings in his 2020 regular season debut, the Dodgers have kept Dustin May essentially on the same throwing program.
Buehler is scheduled to throw three innings during a voluntary workout at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. May will face batters over five innings that same day.
When asked if Buehler and May are a tandem to piggyback against the Astros, Roberts deemed it “certainly a possibility.”
Buehler has been slow-played throughout Summer Camp and only appeared in one intrasquad game. Granted, it was an encouraging performance as he retired all seven batters faced. The Dodgers have maintained health is not an issue with Buehler and that he will be available come Opening Day.
Josiah Gray starting exhibition finale
With Julio Urias due to for a final tuneup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, the Dodgers will then hand the ball to prospect Josiah Gray in their last exhibition game Wednesday.
Gray impressed during intrasquad play and now gets an opportunity to face the L.A. Angels in a Major League stadium. Gray was named the Dodgers’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2019.
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