Well before the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a blockbuster trade to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price, one of their few additions during the offseason was signing Jimmy Nelson to a one-year contract with a team option for 2021.
Nelson reportedly was expected to be among the participants vying for a spot in the starting rotation during Spring Training. That group consists of Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Ross Stripling, Julio Urias and Alex Wood as well.
Though, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman recently indicated Urias was expected to be one of the club’s five starters come Opening Day.
As for the competition for the final spot, May and Nelson are dealing with minor injuries a few days into official workouts, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Dave Roberts said Jimmy Nelson had left groin soreness during his bullpen session. Termed benign. Dustin May has mild tighness in his side.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) February 16, 2020
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are poised to get their first look at Brusdar Graterol as he’s overcome a bout with the flu, according to Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
Brusdar Graterol will participate in his first workout with the #Dodgers today. He’s been sick. He said he will throw his first bullpen tomorrow.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) February 16, 2020
Nelson once was a promising young pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, going 12-6 with a 3.49 ERA, 3.05 FIP and 1.25 WHIP with 199 strikeouts and 48 walks in 175.1 innings across 29 starts in 2017. He suffered a shoulder injury sliding into first base in September of that season, and it wound up costing him the entire 2018 campaign and a portion of last year as well.
May was among the eight players to make his MLB debut with the Dodgers last season, and is hopeful a winter spent focusing on refining his offspeed pitches would further bolster his case to be a starter.
However, May has maintained he is willing to fill any role asked of him. The most likely of which might have the right-hander begin the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
That may also apply to Graterol as well. While he has experience as a starter, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated the club views Graterol as a relief pitcher.
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