by Rowan Kavner
The Dodgers haven’t announced who will round out the rotation with less than a week to go before Opening Day, but manager Dave Roberts provided a little more clarity Friday night.
Roberts said Jimmy Nelson will begin the season in the bullpen, leaving Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and David Price as the options for the final spot in the five-man rotation. All three have built up as starters this spring to give the Dodgers as many options as possible, even if two ultimately start the season in the bullpen.
“I’m game for whatever,” May said after his start Thursday. “You kind of saw that last year, where I got the Opening Day start and I was notified like 24 hours before first pitch. I’m really up for anything. As long as I’m up contributing and helping the team win, I’m happy to do whatever.”
Still, May’s hope is to be a part of the starting rotation. He and his fellow 2016 draftee, Gonsolin, have made their cases this spring.
The two young hurlers are often placed in similar buckets, having followed similar career paths to this point. Both are entering their third season in the Majors. Neither was expected to be in the starting rotation to begin last season, yet both started games within the first week of the year. May started on Opening Day and Gonsolin followed soon after, making his first start of the year July 31 on his way to becoming the 2020 Baseball America Rookie of the Year.
They’ve grown accustomed to dynamic roles as starters and relievers. They both made playoff starts and relief appearances during the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series run. And now they’re both vying for a coveted rotation spot.
Whatever decision the Dodgers ultimately make, neither young starter has made it a particularly easy one for Roberts and the team given their promise and recent performances. Gonsolin has been one of the steadiest pitchers this spring, allowing just four baserunners in 10 1/3 innings. He has struck out 12 batters without a walk while amassing a 0.39 WHIP.
And May has progressed as spring has continued.
Two starts ago, Roberts thought May had his best outing of the spring to that point. Then May followed that up with what he felt was his best performance of the spring on Thursday, striking out six batters while allowing one run in five innings on Thursday. He touched triple digits in velocity, which he attributed mostly to improved body control and a synced-up delivery.
“It’s always cool to look back and see 100,” May said. “But still got to get guys out, so that’s the main priority.”
He’s done a better job of that in recent weeks, and he credits a routine for helping him get to that point. The 23-year-old has had to adapt and be flexible often in his young career, starting 14 games and entering in relief 12 times.
He said he’s “a huge routine guy,” so he’s enjoyed pitching on a more typical starting schedule this spring. He said he has used his time focusing on pitch development, throwing breaking balls for strikes and locating his four-seam fastball up in the zone, all of which seem to be getting better the closer the season gets.
But he’s also ready to help in any role asked as he awaits word on what that will be. The same goes for the other two pitchers in contention for the final rotation spot.
Roberts said Price will start Sunday in Anaheim, and Gonsolin will piggyback after him. Price, who has started 311 of his 321 career regular season appearances, has said throughout the spring he’s willing to pitch out of the bullpen if that’s what’s needed.
“I want my teammates to know I want us to be the best version of the Dodgers that we can be,” Price said. “Whatever that entails me doing, I’m OK with that. I’ve done this for a long time. I know we have a tremendous amount of talent with a lot of our young guys. Those guys deserve opportunities to go out there and be starters.”
Gonsolin said he hopes to be able to talk to Price more this year and pick his brain. He complimented the veteran left-hander and former Cy Young Award winner for his selflessness in accepting any role asked.
“I think he’s just a great guy,” Gonsolin said. “He’s going to do whatever he can to help the ballclub and help the ballclub win.”
Quick Hits:
- Clayton Kershaw said he’s not too concerned or worried after allowing nine runs (eight earned) in 3 1/3 innings in his final spring tune-up on Friday against the Athletics. He said he’s excited to get going on April 1 for Opening Day in Colorado.
- Corey Knebel left the game after being hit in the right side with a comebacker to the mound. Roberts said Knebel was removed as a precaution, and he expects the reliever to be fine.
- Roberts said the plan is to enter the season with 13 positions players and 13 pitchers.
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