The Dodgers lost Dustin May to a flexor pronator strain yesterday. That injury is expected to sideline him for four to six weeks, leaving a vacancy in the starting five. L.A. manager Dave Roberts addressed the rotation before today’s loss to the Cardinals.
Roberts noted the club was likely to recall top pitching prospect Gavin Stone to take the open rotation spot (Twitter thread via Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times). Stone and Michael Grove are the only pitchers to take a start outside of the Dodgers’ expected top five of Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urías, Tony Gonsolin, Noah Syndergaard and May.
Grove has been on the 15-day injured list for nearly a month thanks to a groin strain. He’s with the club on the taxi squad and could be reinstated within the next few days, although Roberts suggested he was likelier to step into the relief corps immediately. Grove has been throwing in extended Spring Training but hasn’t gone out on a minor league rehab assignment.
Meanwhile, the club provided an unfortunate update on right-hander Ryan Pepiot. The Butler product was expected to take the fifth spot out of camp with Gonsolin opening the year on the IL. He suffered a brutally timed oblique strain at the end of Spring Training, however, sending him to the 60-day IL. Pepiot has still yet to throw from a mound as he continues to battle side soreness, and Roberts indicated he was unlikely to be back until around the All-Star Break (via Harris).
Stone is the logical choice to come back up. He struggled in his major league debut earlier in the season, allowing five runs in four innings. The 24-year-old has been strong for Triple-A Oklahoma City, pitching to a 4.04 ERA with a quality 27.5% strikeout rate over 35 2/3 frames in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
Alongside Stone, Bobby Miller is one of the sport’s most touted minor league pitchers and has reached Triple-A. He’s made just four starts after being delayed in Spring Training and been tagged for 13 runs in 14 1/3 innings. Unsurprisingly, Roberts suggested the Dodgers want Miller to keep getting reps in Oklahoma City rather than garnering consideration for a short-term call. Miller is not yet on the 40-man roster.
Romancing the stone
Once knew a guy named Gavin Stoner.
Miller is the long term solution.
The bullpen is taxed. They need new blood. Almonte should be stacking del monte at Ralphs. Bickford is likable but he gives it up like a virgin on prom night. They need a starter to give em innings, Dick Mountain anyone
Bickford is basically a disposable reliever IMHO. He reminds me more of Cyrano De Bergerac than a dependable reliever.
He’s not that ugly
The organization has set the bar so low starters it forces a taxes bullpen and IL manipulation
Starters can’t go 7-8-9 innings anymore? When did pulling a starter after 4 become normal.
You’d think scoring 8 runs including a grand slam would keep you in the game…
Ridiculous bullpen.
The starter gave up 6 ER in 3 innings.
Julio Urias looks like a shadow of his former self. For most of the last 4+ years he’s looked like a STUD #2, borderline #1 pitcher and these days, looks like a glue & masking tape BACK END #4/5 starter.
Shame it’s happening on a contract year. supposedly already turned down extension talks with dodgers… no real surprise since he is a Boras client after all… but i have never liked his attitude, so kind of fun seeing him collapse.
The Dodgers were still down 9-2 before the grand slam and down 9-8 after 7 innings.
So impressive that this team has so many prospects despite being a perennial WS contender for so long. I get that having a lot of money (and being willing to spend it) helps since you don’t always have to make trades but can go get the free agents you desire, but still…it’s impressive.
Not trying to start a fight, I know you were saying money is not the main reason for their success, but… having lots of money is fairly insignificant when any reasonable way to add amateur talent to your organization is capped and usually based on the MLB team’s record
The quality of scouts and quality of upper management cannot be overstated for the Dodgers in the last 10 years. They’ve built something really special.
Those are great points.
Shelby or Bobby?
Emmet Sheehan is being screwed over. He has raked in the minors. He will be better pitcher than Stone, longterm
A lot Dodgers minor league pitchers are doing good so far in Tulsa.
Nick Nastrini 2.70 ERA in 20IP.
Nick Frasso 1.01 ERA in 26.2IP.
River Ryan 2.55 ERA in 24.2IP.
Emmet Sheehan 1.85 ERA in 34IP.
Landon Knack 1.59 ERA in 34IP.
Kyle Hurt 1.42 ERA in 19IP.
Heck, even the guy that they traded for Joey Gallo doing well so far in the Yankees minors. Bad trade for a below .200 hitter
“Pepiot has still yet to throw from a mound as he continues to battle side soreness, and Roberts indicated he was unlikely to be back until around the All-Star Break”
I keep reading this and I do not understand what the author is trying to say.
Is the author trying to say he was likely to come back by the all star break. But not now since he continues to battle side soreness?
It’s very strange because the author says, “he was unlikely”, (past tense) so does that mean it’s likely now? Why would it be more likely now when he hasn’t thrown yet.
Is it confusing, really? Oh no, the author used “was” instead of “is”
Pepiot was supposed to start in the minors. Then he was supposed to be the #5. Then he got hurt. Then it was a 10 day thing, then a 60 day thing, now it’s going to be a “half the season” thing. He won’t be back pitching until at least July now, and given how the timeline has gone thus far, that’s probably a best case timeline
White Sox fan here, Dodgers have the highest payroll and the best farm system, Dodgers fans have no idea how lucky they are, having a good team every year