Cody Snavely
As the 2024 MLB season races toward June, the Dodgers have already played more than fifty games, as we approach Memorial Day weekend.
Following a grueling thirteen-game stretch, the Dodgers are preparing to bolster their pitching staff with the return of key players from the injured list. Bobby Miller is set to begin his rehab assignment this Sunday with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, marking the first wave of arms to be activated.
The Dodgers got their first major arm back from the IL when Walker Buehler made his first start since the 2022 season. He has since made three starts, all with mixed results. However, his most recent start against the Cincinnati Reds, which saw him go six shutout innings, is something the right-handed starter can build on.
However, the Dodgers are set to activate multiple arms throughout the summer. Over this weekend, Dave Roberts informed the media in his pregame scrum that multiple pitchers are progressing well. With those arms on the horizon, what will the Dodgers do with their potential surplus of pitching?
Bullpen arms waiting in the wings
The Dodgers bullpen has been one of the many bright spots this season; however, it is missing many arms who will all work their way back to the club at some point this season.
Currently, the Dodgers bullpen is ranked third in Major League Baseball with a 3.21 ERA, a position the team also held last season, finishing the year ranked third with a 3.24 ERA.
Despite that success, the Dodgers have multiple key relief pitchers on the IL, such as Evan Phillips, Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier, Brusdar Graterol, Kyle Hurt, and Connor Brogdon.
Kyle Hurt, Brusdar Graterol, and Connor Brogdon were each placed on the 60-day IL and are the furthest away from being activated.
Brogdon, who was DFA’d by the Phillies in April, was acquired by the Dodgers via trade. He only made one appearance with the team before being placed on the IL due to right plantar fasciitis and has had little to no updates in his recovery process.
Kyle Hurt, who made his debut last season in the bullpen, posting a 0.00 ERA in two innings, was set to be a major player in this season’s bullpen. However, his season has been sidelined indefinitely with a shoulder injury.
It’s unclear when Hurt sustained the injury and how long he’ll be sidelined. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Hurt doesn’t have to undergo further testing, which could be a good sign.
Graterol is the one relief pitcher on the IL on whom we have some clarity. Dave Roberts stated that the right-hander has begun throwing again and threw back-to-back days of 125 ft. Graterol was a valuable part of the Dodgers 2023 bullpen, sporting a 1.20 ERA in 67.1 innings.
Ryan Brasier strained his calf in pregame warm-ups on April 29th, before the game against the D-backs. The MRI revealed that the strain was mid-calf but that the righty would miss an extended period. How Roberts also stated that he is preparing to throw off a mound soon.
Joe Kelly, who was placed on his “annual” IL stint, is inching toward his return and beginning his throwing program. Since he has been out since May 6th, Kelly will likely need a rehab assignment.
Evan Phillips has already thrown off a mound on May 15th and is set to begin his rehab assignment this weekend. He will likely rejoin the team after that.
Starting rotation reinforcements on the way
The Dodgers bullpen isn’t the only area expecting reinforcements this summer, as the starting rotation is set to activate a few arms over the following weeks/months.
First up on the list is Dodgers right-handed stud Bobby Miller, who is set to make his first rehab assignment this Sunday.
Miller, 25, has been sidelined due to should inflammation since April 14th after back-to-back subpar starts in Chicago and Minneapolis. The Dodgers have been cautiously optimistic, with Miller shutting down the situation early before it got worse.
In twenty-two starts, Miller won eleven games with a 3.76 ERA, which earned him the NLDS game two nod in October. Miller was dominant in his first start of the season, tossing six shutout innings and striking out a career-high eleven Cardinals.
Miller will likely rejoin the already cluttered Dodgers rotation, which means it is decision time for Andrew Freidman to decide who the odd man out is.
Clayton Kershaw is the next starter. He is progressing through his shoulder injury and plans to debut “mid-summer” this season.
Over the last few weeks, Kershaw has continued his throwing program, increasing the distance, number of throws, and intensity. The 16-year MLB vet took the next step by tossing off a mound two weeks ago.
Kershaw’s next step after this would be to implement off-speed into his bullpens, face live hitters, and possibly go on a lengthy rehab assignment. Luckily, the Dodgers are in no rush to activate/push their star, as the rotation has plenty of depth.
The final “starter” who is potentially returning late in the season is right-handed starter Dustin May. He has been out since undergoing yet another elbow surgery last season, ending his 2023 campaign.
May, who returned at the end of the 2022 season, entered camp prior to the 2023 season the healthiest of his career, earning a spot in the Dodgers’ rotation to kick off the year. May made nine starts with a 2.63 ERA but was shut down with arm/elbow discomfort.
This is May’s second Tommy John surgery, and he has finally begun his throwing program, posting videos on his Instagram account of him throwing at the Dodgers Arizona complex.
May is an interesting player because, despite being a starter, the Dodgers could use him as a reliever. He may not be able to build up enough innings to be a starter this season.
With Miller set to return, who is out?
The Dodgers’ current starting staff is full of arms, including Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, James Paxton, Gavin Stone, and Walker Buehler. The first big decision with this starting five will be when Bobby Miller is activated.
The Dodgers have considered using a six-man rotation, which would allow them to slot Miller back in without problems, but they would lose a bullpen arm in the process. If the team does not want to go with a six-man rotation, they could possibly send Gavin Stone down since he is the lone pitcher on the rotation with options remaining.
The next possible outcome is to place a starter on the IL, which would also open up a spot. James Paxton, who has seen a dip in velocity so far this year, along with a lack of command, posting a 1.376 WHIP, could see an IL stint this season.
Another starter could be Tyler Glasnow, and it could be plausible after the righty’s back-to-back subpar starts. The righty has gotten off to an electric start to begin his Dodgers career.
Glasnow’s previous career-high in innings pitched was last season, whereas with the Tampa Bay Rays, Glasnow threw 120 innings. The 6-foot-8-inch right-hander has battled numerous injuries throughout his career and is on pace to blow his previous 120-inning mark out of the water.
The Dodgers, who are solely judged on October’s success, will need Glasnow to be healthy in October compared to the current innings. Could they IL him to limit his innings?
Countdown to the July 30th Trade Deadline?
It is never too early to think about the trade deadline and how the Dodgers and other teams around the league will attack the market. However, the Dodgers have so much pitching depth that they could benefit from trading multiple arms for positions of need.
The Dodgers have eight potential arms in their starting rotation, nine if you include right-handed starter Landon Knack. Multiple relievers coming back in the coming weeks will complicate things further.
If there is one area that teams always look to add, it is pitching, and the Dodgers have plenty of arms that teams would be interested in. One area that the Dodgers could use an upgrade in is the outfield.
So far in 2024, the Dodgers’ outfield has been less than impressive outside of Teoscar Hernández. Every other Dodgers outfielder is hitting a combined .178/.247/.280 in 414 plate appearances, which is a massive reason why the offense has been inconsistent all season.
The Dodger’s best major league-ready trade chip is likely Landon Knack, who has a 2.62 ERA in 20.2 innings pitched for the Dodgers this season. Knack, 26, is ready to stay on the big league club full-time but has no place on the 26-man roster due to the Dodger’s depth.
Another interesting thought would be left-handed veteran James Paxton, the lefty bridge in the rotation until Kershaw returns later this summer. Paxton now has the lowest ERA amongst the starters in the rotation with a 2.84, but the lack of command and velocity has been an issue.
A good problem to have
Due to Andrew Friedman’s work this offseason, the Dodgers have plenty of roster depth in the pitching department, which is a fortunate problem to have.
The Dodgers will have to make tougher decisions about who “deserves” a spot on the 26-man roster while also taking advantage of the surplus of pitching to hopefully plug up potential roster holes before October.
I recently discussed this surplus of pitching with All Dodgers & Dodgers Territory host Clint Pasillas, which you can check out below.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
