The Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to see a pitcher make multiple starts in 2020 Spring Training, but that is due to change Thursday when Tony Gonsolin faces the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Ballpark.
Gonsolin started the Dodgers’ first Cactus League game of the year, and he was followed the next day by Alex Wood. Ross Stripling and Victor Gonzalez are among those who have also received starts, Josiah Gray did Wednesday, and Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler are set to make their respective 2020 debuts this weekend.
With the Dodgers inserting more pitchers into their expanded Spring Training rotation — David Price and Julio Urias will eventually enter the mix as well — there is beginning to be some overlap.
According to Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times, Wood’s next time pitching will be in relief when he follows Kershaw on Saturday:
Roberts said Clayton Kershaw will pitch two innings in his spring debut Friday. Alex Wood will piggyback him with two innings.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) February 26, 2020
Wood worked a scoreless inning in his debut last week and was excited to reap early benefits from an offseason of work aimed at regaining velocity and sustained health.
Although the left-hander is next scheduled to appear out of the bullpen, Wood has made it clear he returned to the Dodgers under the pretense of being part of the Opening Day rotation.
“I love these guys and I love this place, but I wouldn’t have taken the risk of coming back without knowing that when Opening Day comes around, I wouldn’t be in the starting rotation,” he said. “I don’t know the semantics of everything else or what’s been said.
“I came back here knowing I’m going to be in the rotation and we’re going to go from there. Once the season starts, things can change. You have to perform, but I came back here fully cemented in the rotation.”
When given an opportunity to publicly name Wood part of the starting rotation — as the Dodgers have with Julio Urias — manager Dave Roberts instead sidestepped and said it’s a mentality Wood and other candidates should have.
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