Dodgers Interview: Casparius stoked to move into rotation

SAN DIEGO — Making just his second big-league start of the season, Ben Casparius stepped into a high-pressure situation on Wednesday in a rockin’ Petco Park and gave the Dodgers exactly what they needed: four solid innings in a hostile environment, putting the team in position to secure a series win over the Padres.

But things looked a little dicey in the bottom of the second, when it seemed he might not survive. But he did, pulling himself together and limiting the damage. How did he do it? “Yeah, I think, you know, trusting Will there…” Casparius said, referring to his battery mate Will Smith. “You know, I think five straight reached and everything. I think it’s just, you know, get back in the zone, challenge.”

After the brief stretch in the second inning where he lost command and allowed five straight Padres to reach base, Casparius didn’t flinch. He got back into the zone, trusted his catcher, and got Fernando Tatis Jr. to fly out on a first-pitch sweeper to escape further damage.

“I felt pretty good after that,” Casparius said.

The outing marked a possible turning point in the 26-year-old’s role with the club. The Dodgers have hinted at a gradual build-up plan, and Casparius confirmed that discussions are ongoing about potentially stretching him out for a more permanent spot in the rotation.

“Yeah, I think it’s just, you know, a steady buildup. I don’t know what next week’s going to look like, obviously, but I feel pretty good. I was happy to get to 50 [pitches] today. I thought the plan was two or three [innings], so just to get through four was huge—and I felt good.”

Asked directly if he’d like to return to a starter’s role full-time, Casparius didn’t hesitate.

“Yeah, I think so,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for the majority of my professional career, so it’s something I’m comfortable with routine-wise. I’m just looking forward to what’s coming up next.”

It was a short-notice assignment, too. Casparius shared that he didn’t even know he’d be starting until the night before.

“Uh, last night,” he said when asked when he got the word. “I kind of had a feeling it was going to be multiples today,” he added, referring to his expected workload.

Pitching in a playoff-type atmosphere against a division rival wasn’t lost on him either.

“Obviously this being a playoff atmosphere against this team—awesome series to be a part of,” Casparius said. “Getting a win like that’s huge on the road, back end of a 13-game road trip. So yeah, it’s been great, and the communication’s been great the whole year.”

One of the game’s key defensive moments came courtesy of center fielder Andy Pages, who delivered a strike to cut down a runner and bail out Casparius from a jam.

“It was awesome,” Casparius said. “I mean, he’s been doing it all year. I haven’t seen anybody play in the outfield at a level he has this year. So honestly, at this point, it’s something I think we all expect—and he picked me up big time right there.”

Even Padres slugger Manny Machado tipped his cap to Casparius after a key out.

“Yeah, I saw that,” Casparius said. “Especially to end an inning like that. You know, it’s one of the best players in the game, so it’s pretty cool. Just good sportsmanship in general.”

Casparius also spoke about how his preparation and pitch usage change depending on his expected role. Against a contact-heavy Padres lineup, he emphasized early outs.

“I think it changes team to team,” he explained. “Today, they’re not a team that strikes out a whole lot, so I knew I was going to lean on the cutter a little bit to get early contact. I think that’s kind of what kept me in the game for as long as I was in there—just some of the quick outs I got.”

The 2024 season has demanded adaptability from Casparius, who has bounced between roles and been used in various situations.

“It’s been a whole lot of different things this year,” he said. “And then obviously, potentially going into a starting role—I think taking that reliever mindset, pitch by pitch, inning by inning, has helped me to slow the game down in general. So I think it’s been kind of a blessing.”

The Dodgers’ coaching staff seems intrigued by what Casparius could bring with a more regular opportunity. And with the team continuing to navigate injuries and workloads across the staff, his versatility and poise could make him a valuable asset moving forward.

“Whatever happens going forward,” Casparius said, “I think I can just use that to keep going.”