In recent news from Camelback Ranch, the Los Angeles Dodgers will likely not begin using a six-man starting pitching rotation until later in the spring. Thanks to a regular-season schedule that includes off-days every week throughout April, the team can temporarily ease back on their expanded rotation plans.
“The schedule sets up well through April for us to manage it without doing that,” front-office boss Andrew Friedman explained last week.
This scheduling quirk means that Los Angeles starters might only need to work on four days rest just three times in the opening five weeks — April 9, 16 and 30. The timing could prove perfect, as Shohei Ohtani‘s anticipated return to the mound could conceivably hit in May.
Tokyo Starting Pitchers Set, Battle Brewing for Fifth Spot
The rotation’s foundation is taking shape, with Japanese stars Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki slated to headline the Tokyo series on March 18 and 19, according to manager Dave Roberts. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow — health permitting — are also locked into starting spots, leaving an intriguing battle for the fifth rotation slot between Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May.
The competition comes with its share of question marks. Gonsolin missed 2024 recovering from UCL surgery, while May’s comeback was cut short last July due to a torn esophagus.
Bullpen Flexibility Could Shape Final Roster Decisions
“It’s gonna be interesting. They are fighting for a spot,” Roberts said, adding that both Gonsolin and May could find themselves in the bullpen if they don’t crack the rotation. “But I do think that right now, at this point, they’re both building up. We’re viewing them as starters.”
The bullpen might indeed be where May, Gonsolin, Bobby Miller or even Landon Knack end up on Opening Day, especially with relievers Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech expected to start the season on the injured list. Hard-throwing Brusdar Graterol, who recently said he feels like he has “a new arm” following November shoulder surgery, is also likely to claim one of those spots.
Snell Finding His Place in Dodger Blue
Meanwhile, Snell, once a villain in the eyes of Los Angeles fans everywhere, is already winning hearts in Los Angeles. The lefty recently shared a touching moment about his new team during an MLB Network appearance, specifically about the honor of throwing a bullpen in front of veteran lefty Clayton Kershaw.
Said Snell, “Putting a jersey on the first time, to me, that was amazing. I’ve been waiting to do that for a while. So, to throw a bullpen in uniform, you see Kershaw, that’s crazy to me. That’s like the coolest thing I think I’ve done in my career, is pitch in front of him.”
Ohtani’s Return to the Mound
As for Ohtani’s return to pitching, the timeline remains fluid. While Roberts has suggested May as a target, Friedman is taking a more measured approach: “We’re just going to let him continue his progression, watch how he’s recovering. I’m sure that it will continue to be as good as it’s been to this point and we’ll continue to move forward. But the date’s going to kind of fall out of that process as opposed to us having a target date.”