The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation has already been impacted by multiple injuries this season, although the replacements haven’t skipped a beat filling in.
The latest example of that is Tony Gonsolin as he was called up to start Wednesday night’s game against the San Diego Padres. He tossed 4.2 shutout innings, striking out a career-high eight batters.
Because Gonsolin was late reporting to Summer Camp, he did not make the Opening Day roster and instead spent time at the team’s alternate training site to continue building up. He has twice been called up for spot starts and thrown a combined 8.2 scoreless innings in those outings.
While the Dodgers still have five other healthy starters in their rotation, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts still anticipates giving Gonsolin another start sometime in the next week. “He’s not headed anywhere,” Roberts said.
“We talked about performance certainly matters and what he does for the rest of the rotation as far as giving potential off days, which he’s done with his two starts. Right now, we don’t have him penciled in for a start day.
“Looking at the next two or three days, things could change as far as where we’re at in the ‘pen. But if all stays according to plan, the idea of him getting another start makes some sense.”
Gonsolin was not optioned after the game against the Padres, so he will be available to start on regular rest next week. The team is currently in a span of playing 17 days in a row, so Gonsolin’s presence will give all of the other starters an extra day of rest yet again.
Gonsolin believes he had false positive
Gonsolin may have been an option to make the Opening Day rotation after David Price opted out and Clayton Kershaw went down with an injury, although he was not yet ready to pitch in a big league game after reporting late to Summer Camp.
The reason for that was unknown, but Gonsolin revealed he believes he had a false positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test.
“I tested positive once and have not tested positive since then. There’s nothing I can really do about it,” he said. “It was about a week before (MLB’s) intake (testing at the start of camp).”
Gonsolin may not be able to change the past, but it seems he is doing everything he can to make sure his name continues to be in the mix in the future for the Dodgers.
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