Dodgers might turn to Ryan Pepiot or Michael Grove if Tony Gonsolin misses start of season
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts isn’t ready to say Tony Gonsolin will miss the start of the season after Gonsolin sprained his left ankle during workouts earlier this week.
But Roberts is ready to acknowledge that the choice of a replacement – if needed – comes down to two young right-handers, Ryan Pepiot or Michael Grove.
“I think that’s fair,” Roberts said. “With those guys having some experience already (at the major-league level), seeing them as starters – having one of those guys fill that void is probably likely.”
Gonsolin’s ankle has improved since he injured it on Monday. But there is still no timetable for when he will resume his throwing program. Gonsolin made one Cactus League start before his injury, allowing three hits but no runs in 2⅓ innings against the Angels last week.
“He is moving around better,” Roberts said Saturday. “But it’s going to be a slow process, I’ll say that.”
That could make a start or two available for Pepiot or Grove to fill in while Gonsolin builds up and rejoins the rotation. Both have looked good in Cactus League games.
Pepiot has allowed one run on seven hits in six innings. Most importantly for him, he has walked just one and struck out nine. Addressing the command issues that hampered him during his seven starts for the Dodgers last season has been his primary focus this spring.
“He looks different,” Roberts said. “The delivery is different. It’s a lot more consistent. I think the throws are a lot more consistent, more competitive pitches. Much better than it was.”
Grove has also allowed one run in six spring innings but on just two hits and no walks while striking out six.
“I think Michael is continuing to get better,” Roberts said of Grove, who was 1-0 with a 4.60 ERA in seven games with the Dodgers last season. “I love his strike-throwing. I like his command and I like the way he can spin the baseball.”
There’s also a lot to like about Bobby Miller, the Dodgers’ first-round pick in 2020 and one of the top-rated pitching prospects in baseball. Unlike the Dodgers’ other top pitching prospect, Gavin Stone, who has appeared in two Cactus League games, Miller hasn’t appeared in a game this spring and has yet to even throw live batting practice to hitters. He is scheduled to face hitters next week but he might not pitch in a game on the major-league side of camp at all this spring.
The 23-year-old right-hander is being “slow-played” after topping 112 innings pitched last season, double his workload from 2021.
Miller said he knew this would be the approach this spring. Nonetheless, the Dodgers thought the non-roster invitee would benefit from a spring spent working with the major-league coaches, surrounded by role models like three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.
If Pepiot and Grove have a leg up to fill in for Gonsolin at the start of the season, Miller and Stone are both on the brink of making their big-league debuts. The Dodgers have used an average of 12.8 starting pitchers per season over the past 10 years.
“I’m ready. I feel ready,” Miller said. “I want to be a contributor to the big-league team. I want to stay there. It can’t always happen. But a lot of it is in my hands as well. I’ve got to take care of myself, gather myself physically and mentally. Physically, I’m already there. I’ve got some work to do mentally and I think I’ll be right there.”
KERSHAW DAY
Kershaw made his first Cactus League start on Friday against the Angels. Kershaw had pitched in a minor-league game last weekend but Friday was his first time pitching with the new pitch clock.
“Today wasn’t a problem. I didn’t really have any issues with it today,” Kershaw said. “I did find myself looking at it a lot. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. It obviously does take a little bit of focus off what you’re doing when you’re looking at the pitch clock. I don’t know if I’m going to change that or not, honestly. I guess we’ll just have to see.”
MLB has also approved the use of a PitchCom device worn by pitchers that allows them to call their own pitches, signaling electronically to the catcher (instead of the reverse). Kershaw said he wore the device on his belt Friday out of curiosity.
“I put the little thing on there today, just thinking I would use it,” Kershaw said. “It sounds good in theory. But once you get in that rhythm – I never used it once today.
“I don’t really see myself using it. But who knows? Maybe.”
MLB has approved the device for spring use but not for the season yet.