Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Now, here’s where things get a bit dicey. We know we can pretty much lock Kershaw/Urias/Gonsolin into the top three spots in the rotation, but after that, there is a bit of a log jam. A comeback kid, a vet looking for a second wind, and a much of young guns eager to show what they’ve got. Of course, it’s likely we’ll see all of these guys get a start at some point during the season. The only question is when and how many.
Dustin May (2022: 2-3, 4.50 ERA, 16 K)
Dustin May is a real wild card this year. Coming off the long Tommy John recovery, he wasn’t quite himself when he came back at the tail end of the season. He would have a brilliant start, and then he’d get shelled in the very next outing. So, it’s tough to gauge what exactly our expectations should be from Code Red this year. I’m hoping for big things and his sub 2.00 ERA in Spring Training suggests that those hopes might be realized. The key to May will be control. If he loses the strike zone, it could make for a very long season of frustration. If his command improves on last year, he could easily be an elite pitcher in the NL. He’s got the nasty stuff. Now, he just needs to rein it in a little.
Noah Syndergaard (2022 [LAA/PHI]: 10-10, 3.94 ERA, 95 K)
Gone are the days that Thor was flirting with 100 mph on his every heater as he was in his New York Mets heyday. The Syndergaard the Dodgers are getting is definitely Thor 2.0. However, I gotta say, I like this offseason pickup. I think there’s a lot of upside potential in the guy and while he hasn’t quite hit the triple digits like he was hoping for in Spring Training, he’s had a good, if inconsistent, March. His over 4.50 ERA can be written off to one terrible, horrible, no good, very bad start in poor conditions. Once the weather improves, look for him to be solid contributor in the back end of the rotation.
Ryan Pepiot (2022: 3-0, 3.47 ERA, 42 K)
Already we know that Tony Gonsolin needs to be replaced in the rotation for a time due to his ankle injury, so who is Dave Roberts‘ best bet to do that? Chances are, it will be either Ryan Pepiot or Michael Grove. Pepiot looked good at times in his big league work in 2022, but like May, he had problems consistently landing pitches for strikes. He has had a good Spring Training, and certainly his 13 strikeouts in 9 innings of work is eye-opening. Tough to argue with a guy who wears the old school stirrups. I’m guessing it’s Pepiot who breaks camp with the Dodgers and heads to Chavez Ravine.
UPDATE: roster moves made on Friday confirm my suspicions. For the time being, it will be Pepiot in the rotation. Michael Grove will be starting the season in Oklahoma City.
Michael Grove (2022: 1-0, 4.60 ERA, 24 K)
Grove has had a good Spring Training as well, so don’t count him out as a possibility to start the season on the big club. In fact, it’s Grove who leads the entire team in Cactus League starts. I’m guessing he spends most of the year at OKC this season, but given the nature of the game these days, his number is sure to be called a time or two before the end of the season.
Gavin Stone (2022 [MiLB]: 9-6, 1.48 ERA, 168 K)
All lot of talk in Camelback Ranch this year has been about Gavin Stone’s blazing hot March. Stone, the Dodgers’ number 5 prospect, already been sent down, so he won’t be on the the Opening Day roster, but what an impression he made in his time on the mound in Arizona. In his four Cactus League appearances, Stone posted a 0.00 ERA and had 14 strikeouts in just over 6 innings of work. That’ll definitely play. He was a longshot to break camp with the club, but boy howdy, I’m stoked for when he finally makes his big league debut, whenever that may be.
Other options…
The Dodgers always seem to cobble together a good rotation, and while it’s a little thin in experience on the back end this year, some of these prospects have a great chance to shine on the big stage this year. If any of the above names falter, there is Andre Jackson, who’s seen time on the big club in the last two seasons and had a fantastic Spring Training. Or flame thrower Bobby Miller, who is just about ready to take it to the next level. I like all these youngsters and hope that they will all find their way to the rotation at some point this year.
DODGERSBEAT RATING: B-
