Here’s the latest on Clayton Kershaw possibly headed to the disabled list, who the Dodgers are considering to take his place if that happens, and updates on the rest of the Dodgers’ starting rotation.
Bonus: Kenley Jansen news in my latest video report:
Oscar Martinez
I was born in the shadow of Dodger Stadium and immediately drenched in Dodger Blue. Chavez Ravine is my baseball cathedral, Vin Scully was the golden voice of summer all my life, and Tommy Lasorda remains the greatest Dodgers manager ever. My favorite things are coffee, beer, and the Dodgers beating the Giants. I also blog about my baseball card hobby at All Trade Bait, All the Time.
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IL not DL. Lol.
Yep, it is the IL now since MLB changed that a couple of weeks ago. I am not worried about CK starting the season on the IL. I would rather see him healthy and able to go out every 5th day than have him go down later in the season when he is most needed. Odd injury as Kelly hurt his back standing too long while making Cajun food for the team. Cuts have been made, only one of a guy on the roster was McCreery optioned to OKC. Starting next week they will cut down more from the 57 players still in camp. Ryu looked really good last night. Guy has pinpoint control. Santana, who has wicked stuff, still has problems getting the ball over the plate. Allie got his first 2 hitters out and then walked two and his replacement, who I have never heard of, gave up a couple of hits and Allie got the loss. Pederson hit a monster shot in the second. It went over the walkway behind the grass. Pollock hit an apposite field 2 run shot in the first. Besides the fact that they have a lot of off days at the beginning of the season, if CK is on the DL, the starting rotation would probably be, Ryu, Hill, Maeda, Buehler, and Stripling.
Maeda very sharp today as was the entire bullpen. Garcia and Jansen looked really good. Offense was provided by Kike who hit 2 homers. That was all the scoring in a 2-0 win.
Kike will be the man at 2B and leadoff spot. There is no other possibility in my mind.
Miller could be the only positional player other than Verdugo to make the 25 man roster. No one else seems close. There seems to be some of the reliever whom folks talk about seeing action in the MLB this season, but apart from injury, none should make this team, including Ferguson. I’m assuming Urias is in.
Will Cingrani beat out Alexander for that 13th spot?
Urias will not make the 25 man unless CK or Buehler open on the IL. Alexander and Cingrani are locks. And Kike is no lock to be the leadoff hitter. Vs RHP, you can bet your house it is going to be Joc. Against Lefty’s and some tougher pitchers, it is going to be Pollock. All of the interviews with Roberts point to that being the case. Kike has hit leadoff once this spring, yesterday. Otherwise it has pretty much been Joc or Pollock. Taylor has gotten more starts at second than Kike has. Ferguson will go back down to OKC to work on being a starter. That rotation is going to be filled with talent, Urias, Ferguson, Santana, Gonsolin….As of yesterday it was reported that Kershaw and Buehler were still on schedule to open the year with the team. 12 position players at this point seem to be Turner, Freese, Seager, Barnes, Martin, Pederson, Pollock, Hernandez, Taylor, Bellinger, Muncy and Verdugo. No room for Miller unless they only carry 12 pitchers which we all know is unlikely. Starters: Kershaw, Buehler, Maeda, Ryu, and Hill. BP: Jansen, Baez, Kelly, Garcia, Stripling, Cingrani, Alexander, and pick between, Floro, Chargois. Pretty much the way it is stacking up. Not one of the non roster players have a shot unless someone gets hurt. Toles will end up on the restricted list or released. Then they will fill that roster spot somewhere down the line. They want Urias to be a starter. Best he goes where he can do that since there are no openings on the big club at this point. Using him as a reliever defeats the purpose of stretching out his innings.
There really is no lead off man. Teams change lineups so much it’s out-dated. I think. Don’t have the stats in front of me.
It does seem that the Dodgers have stopped thinking in terms of leadoff hitter and will go with RH/LH hitters depending on who pitches. It’s something I feel they have not given adequate thought to. How can you have a guy like Pederson leading off who SO’s and doesn’t get on base very much? Yes, he’s got power, but at that position, it is a waste, IMO.
“All of the interviews with Roberts point to that being the case. Kike has hit leadoff once this spring, yesterday. Otherwise it has pretty much been Joc or Pollock” I can see that as well, if only for the fact that Joc just cannot handle LHP at all. So it appears the lead off spot will be a ‘platoon’ type. Yeah, there is that horrific word again, and not only that but I am afraid there will be platooning whether we like it or not throughout the lineup.. hope I am wrong, but I see LF, CF, RF, 2nd base and 1st base being platooned. Of course catching has 2 guys sharing the duties but for now anyway, I would give more starts there to Barnes, who’s having a good ST.
Julio Urías day: 3 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks, 0 R, 34 pitches. In six innings this spring, he has allowed one hit.