Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin will be activated from the 15-day injured list this week. He’s expected to make his first major league start in 20 months on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins. Gonsolin’s last start also came against Miami, when he allowed 10 earned runs and eight hits over 3 1/3 innings in an 11-3 loss in August 2023. Before Gonsolin’s return, the Dodgers will run their second bullpen game in less than a week. With 12 pitchers already on the injured list, including several carrying over injuries from last season, they could need another starter soon, particularly with Tyler Glasnow’s next outing in question.
Tony Gonsolin Slated for Season Debut Wednesday
Gonsolin’s path back to the Dodgers’ rotation has been anything but straightforward. A 2022 All-Star who went 16–1 with a 2.14 ERA over 24 starts and 130 1/3 innings, Gonsolin seemed poised to be a mainstay in Los Angeles’ plans. Instead, a torn elbow ligament and subsequent Tommy John surgery derailed his momentum. The surgery sidelined him for all of 2023 and limited him to just three minor league rehab outings in 2024.
He opened this season on the injured list again, this time with a back injury sustained during spring training. But Gonsolin has been steadily building toward a return since early April, and signs of progress are starting to show.
In four outings with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Gonsolin has posted a 3.21 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 14 innings with a 16:6 K:BB. It’s a modest sample size, but enough for the Dodgers as they manage an injury-plagued pitching staff.
Crowded Competition in the Rotation
The Dodgers are missing a dozen pitchers, but much of that depth is expected to return by midseason. Clayton Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan are both on track for summer comebacks, and Shohei Ohtani is aiming to pitch in games later this year. It is a different picture from last October, when the Dodgers cobbled together a postseason rotation with just three healthy starters en route to a World Series title. However, the rotation is far from healthy, as Gonsolin will have to look to earn a permanent spot on the rotation.
For now, Gonsolin has an opening. Whether he can hold it is another question. When fully healthy, the Dodgers’ rotation projects to include Glasnow, Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Dustin May and Roki Sasaki. It’s a strong enough group that would almost certainly push Gonsolin to the margins.
With so many pieces still working their way back, Gonsolin’s best chance to stick will be to perform well immediately. The opportunity is there; how long it lasts is up to him.
Main Photo: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The post Former All-Star Set for First Start in 20 Months for Dodgers appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.