Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — Yesterday, we covered the first half of the dozen or so pitchers who could figure into the middle of the game at some point of the season. Today, we look at a few more, and make a final determination as to the prospects for the season in this critical part of the roster. In the last post, we discussed, Phil Bickford, Justin Bruihl, Garrett Cleavinger, and Victor Gonzalez. Today, we look at five more arms that figure to play a part in the Dodgers’ bullpen plans for 2022.
Shane Greene (2021: 23.2 IP, 7.23 ERA)
Shane Greene is a non-roster guy, but he did see time with the club at the end of last season after a pretty poor stint with Atlanta. He was much better with the Dodgers, but his performance was still a far cry from the guy who made the All-Star team as Detroit’s closer in 2019. That year, prior to a mid-season trade to Atlanta, Greene pitched to the tune of a 1.18 ERA, converting 22 of 25 save opportunities. And he really hasn’t been the same since.
I’d peg Greene as a long shot to make the roster, but with a few pitcher who just won’t be ready for Opening Day (Caleb Ferguson comes to mind), there might be a spot for him somewhere. He’s only appeared in two Cactus League game so far this year and hasn’t even pitched a full inning, so it’s an open question whether or not he will be ready as well. Greene is like a bunch of players on the outskirts of the Dodgers’ roster this year. They’ve had big league success, and they’re trying to recapture the old magic. Let’s hope Greene can find that 2019 Shane Greene somewhere, and bring him to the ballpark this year.
Andre Jackson (2021: 11.2 IP, 2.34 ERA)
Andre Jackson had a couple of good outings in 2021. His big-league debut was a well-done four innings of scoreless ball against the Pirates in August, and he made two other appearances when the Dodgers were so short on pitching down the stretch. He doesn’t figure to be on the major league roster on Opening Day, and to be honest has not looked great in Spring Training, but I could see him being a spot starter in a pinch if one of the rotation goes down.
Otherwise, I’d imagine he will spend most of the season in Oklahoma City this year. Last year in the minors, he made 19 starts and posted a 3.68 ERA with a pretty decent WHIP of 1.11. Look for steady improvement from Jackson in AAA this year, with the occasional call-up to LA.
Tommy Kahnle (2021: did not pitch)
Tommy Kahnle is the real wild card in the Dodger pen this year. Because he played in the American League, Dodger fans probably didn’t see much of this reliever when he was with the Yankees, but he was a very, very good pitcher for a couple of years in the Bronx. His best year was 2017, when he played a key role in the Yankees playoff run (that ended in Houston, and now we know why). After joining the Bombers that year, he had a 2.70 ERA in 32 appearances. He had a down year in 2018, but was back on point in 2019 with a nice 1.06 WHIP in 72 games. In 2020, he had an injury early on and had to go down to Tommy John surgery, from which he’s still trying to recover.
It would be nice if he can regain his old form and contribute this year. With the mass exodus from the pen (Jansen, Kelly, Knebel), we will need pitchers like Kahnle to step up in 2022.
Evan Phillips (2021: 10.1 IP, 3.48 ERA)
Phillips joined the team via a waiver acquisition in mid-August last year. He came up through the vaunted pitcher development factory of the Tampa Bay Rays. Phillips didn’t show a lot during the regular season in limited action, but the Dodgers kept him on the postseason roster when so many pitchers were unable to throw. And, he was pretty darned impressive in his role in the playoffs. He made just two appearances, but they were both memorable: 3.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 6 K. If that is any indication Phillips will be a good arm to keep around when October baseball begins.
I’d imagine he’ll be on the Opening Day roster, but would be on the bubble once the rosters have to be reduced to 26 players on May 1st. We’ll have to see how Dave Roberts wants to play it.
Mitch White (2021: 46.1 IP, 3.56 ERA)
Mitch White kind of drove me crazy at the beginning of the year last year, but by the end of the season, I grew to like him. Indeed, he blew a couple of save opportunities in May on that horrible patch for the team last year, and then in June his ERA for the month was 5.40. But then in July and August, he really turned it around, and started being a more consistent presence out of the bullpen.
His crowning moment was his 7.1 inning shut-out performance in August against the Pirates at Dodger Stadium. After Justin Bruihl pitched the first inning and two-thirds, White came in in the second inning, and the bullpen door never opened again that night. It was a masterful performance, as he pitched the Dodgers to 9-0 shutout win over the visiting Bucs. He only gave up two hits, and struck out six in what was his most complete performance as a Dodger.
Sure it was just one game, and sure it was against the Pirates, but still. White showed me enough on that night to prove that he belonged on a big league roster. Not sure if this is his year, but he is sure to see at least some time at Chavez Ravine in 2022.
The Verdict…
In addition to these hurlers, Darien Nunez and Michael Grove are also on the 40-man roster, but these two guys don’t figure to be pitching too many innings with the big club this year.
So this part of the pen has me the most worried of any of the positions on the diamond. I know that the starters will be there most nights (once Dave Roberts comes to his senses about Andrew Heaney). And I know the closers will figure out to make things work on the back end. But I have to be honest. Innings 5-7 scare me a bit. We were great last year, but it’s going to have to take a lot of good pitching to match it again in 2022.
DODGERSBEAT GRADE (middle relief): C+
