There are 1,458 innings in a 162-game baseball schedule. Of course, games will inevitably go into extra innings, so let’s call a season 1,500 innings (give or take). I have stated before that I would not be surprised if no Dodger starter pitched more than 125 innings. For argument’s sake, let’s say that is true. Let’s see how that looks:
- Blake Snell – 125 Innings
- Tyler Glasnow – 125 Innings
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto – 125 Innings
- Roki Sasaki – 125 Innings
- Shohei Ohtani – 125 Innings
- Tony Gonsolin – 125 Innings
That’s just 750 Innings, half of what is needed in a season. The bullpen cannot be expected to pick up the rest. However, If the above starters are only going to pitch 125 innings, that means that they are only going to go five innings at a time… OR maybe they skip a start every three starts to keep them fresh and to relieve the strain on their arms.
Landon Knack and Clayton Kershaw could combine for 150 innings, and Bobby Miller and Dustin May could get the same. Emmet Sheehan will be back Mid-Season and eat some innings, and guys like Miller and Knack have options, so they could go back and forth to OKC a few times. I think it would be ideal if the starters could eat up 900 innings.
Last season, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitchers collectively logged approximately 679 innings. Here is a list of all the starters the Dodgers used last season (Note: their innings were not all as starters):
- Gavin Stone: 140.1 innings over 25 starts
- Tyler Glasnow: 134.0 innings over 22 starts
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto: 90.0 innings over 18 starts
- James Paxton: 89.1 innings over 18 starts
- Walker Buehler: 75.1 innings over 16 starts
- Landon Knack: 69.0 innings over 12 starts
- Bobby Miller: 56.0 innings over 13 starts
- Jack Flaherty: 55.1 innings over 10 starts
- Clayton Kershaw: 30.0 innings over 7 starts
- Justin Wrobleski: 36.1 innings over 6 starts
- River Ryan: 20.1 innings over 4 starts
- Ryan Brasier: 28.0 innings over 4 starts
- Michael Grove: 51.0 innings over 2 starts
- Anthony Banda: 49.2 innings over 2 starts
- Brent Honeywell: 34.1 innings over 1 start
- Michael Petersen: 14.0 innings over 0 starts
- Ben Casparius: 8.1 innings over 0 starts
- Nabil Crismatt: 7.0 innings over 0 starts
- Elieser Hernández: 9.2 innings over 1 start
- Kyle Hurt: 6.2 innings over 1 start
In the 2024 MLB regular season, the Seattle Mariners’ starting pitchers led the league with a total of approximately 942.2 innings pitched, averaging about 5.82 innings per start. Following the Mariners, the Kansas City Royals‘ starters accumulated around 911 innings, averaging 5.62 innings per start. The Atlanta Braves also had a strong showing, with their starting pitchers logging approximately 904.1 innings, averaging 5.58 innings per start.
As you can see, starting pitching is important, but the Dodgers got to the World Series and won it despite getting just 679 innings from their starters. There is obviously more than one way to skin a cat! It’s possible that some starters will get more than 125 innings, but I think that after the plethora of injuries last year, the Dodgers will be hypervigilant in limiting starting pitchers’ innings.
X-CITES
…In Case You Missed it
This is from the last post:
Andrew Vincent Forte:
Dodgers announced their non-roster invitees. Pitchers, Sam Carlson, Carlos Duran, Julian Fernandez, Jackson Ferris, Giovanni Gallegos, Jose Hernandez, Justin Jarvis, Jared Karros, Jack Little, Jose Rodriguez, Roki Sasaki, Matt Sauer. C: Griffing Lockwood-Powell, Dalton Rushing, Chris Okey. INF: David Bote, Alex Freeland, Austin Gauthier, Kody Hoese. OF: Josue De Paula, Justin Dean, Zyhir Hope, Ryan Ward.
Also:
From Baseball America’s Q & A as it relates to the Dodgers:
Q. Alex Freeland looks like a sneaky good prospect. What are his paths to playing time barring injury to a Dodgers middle infielder?
A. I don’t know if he’s a sneaky good prospect so much as he’s just a good prospect. In another question, JJ suggested there might be a path at third base, but a lot of rooms at the inn are obviously filled.
Q. Why is Dodger’s prospect Hope’s speed grade so low?
A. The run times he produced in the Fall League warrant that grade, though you might be higher if you go by sprint speed. It’s a tricky needle to thread between those two metrics.
Q. By my count 11 catchers made the BA Top 100. Curious which of those you’d consider most likely to move off the position at the major league level?
A. Rushing is likely to move if he remains a Dodger because he’s not pushing Will Smith off the spot. Similarly Basallo’s best hope is to be a part-time catcher/1B/OF/DH as long as he’s an Oriole with Adley Rutschman on the roster. Ballesteros’ frame and weight probably make him the other catcher who is most likely to move because his bat is ahead of his glove.
Q. Is there a big difference between Jesus Made and Emil Morales? Seems both are pretty good in DSL but Emil Morales is not mentioned while Made is top 20?
A. Morales was very good in the DSL, but Made was just a good bit better. He hits the ball significantly harder than Morales while making a lot more contact and making better swing decisions. He also has a better shot to stick at shortstop, although both should be capable infielders defensively.
Q. Do you feel better or worse than you did this time a year ago about Josue De Paula developing in-game power? When should the Dodgers start to worry?
A. Power is generally one of the last things to come in a player, and you’re still dealing with a very young man. I’m not worried about that in the slightest.
Q. Zyhir Hope is listed at #51. That seems a bit low given some of the helium he has had as a prospect. Where do you think he will be next year on the rankings?
A. We’ve been beating the drum on Hope since April. The evaluation hasn’t changed. The feedback throughout the industry is high, but there’s some holes in the swing that scouts believe he needs to close up. He’s got time to move up and yesterday we listed him as a potential No. 1 overall candidate for 2026.
Q. Could SS Alex Freeland become a key piece in LA or might he just become trade fodder?
A. Right now when it comes to Dodgers’ prospects if you take “trade fodder” you have a better shot of being right. There just aren’t many clear spots for prospects to step in. C: Smith/Barnes (which blocks Rushing) 1B: Freeman long-term. 2B: Kim/Betts SS: Betts 3B: OK, here’s a possibility (if the Dodgers don’t sign Munetaka Murakami next year). LF: Conforto (short-term)+Pages CF: Edman RF: Teoscar (plus Betts as option)
Q. Do y’all value ceiling over floor or the opposite with ranking. Thanks for the chat!
A. Both and neither. You factor it all into the blend that is needed to rank players. There are players who rank highly here because of their relatively safe paths to big league jobs–players who have produced in the upper levels of the minors and have well-rounded skillsets with no glaring flaws. And right beside them you may have a player who is all tooled up, but had yet to face top-tier pitching and may have glaring flaws to fix. We’re trying as best we can to synthesize the two. Alex Freeland and Luke Keaschall are right in the middle of the 100. Both have produced in the upper levels of the minors, have no career derailing flaws and are capable of playing in the infield. They rank right above Josue DePaula and Zyhir Hope. DePaula and Hope have the potential to be much better than Freeland and Keaschall if everything breaks right. But neither has upper level MiLB experience, and both are corner outfielders without a ton of defensive value. Floor and ceiling. Side-by-side.
Just a great post, Mark.
Thoughtful and informative.
Ditto
I was thinking the same thing.
MLBTR was reporting that the Dodgers were among the teams who watched Max Scherzer work out. Could they possibly have a real interest in a guy who flamed out when they needed him the most? I find that highly unlikely. Still waiting to see who gets cut when they finalize Yates contract. Teo called for the Dodgers to re-sign Kike. But that is also unlikely unless they can trade Taylor.
Grove or Outman could be DFA’d , a possible trade that is in the works, or waiting till Feb.11th to open up a roster spot on the 40 man roster when injured players can be placed on the 60 Day IL . Lots of positive possibilities.
NO!
They could DFA Taylor, no team is going to pick up his contract, sign him as a minor league free agent with his same contract and send him to OKC. What a great insurance policy. The chances of the Dodgers going through the whole season without an injury to several positional players is illogical. Taylor, I’m sure wouldn’t like it but the Dodgers are rewarding Taylor for his long time contributions. Taylor gets his 15 million either with the Dodgers or some other team with the Dodgers paying all but the league minimum.
When was the last time they DFAd a guy with a contract like that? The only one I remember is Carl Crawford, but he was more injury prone than Taylor. Taylor has value to the team, or they would have cut him and re-signed Kike. Taylor is second to Muncy as the team leader in post-season homers with 9. Muncy has 13. They can’t send him to OKC, he has no options left. He shows anything in spring and is healthy, CT3 will be on the roster.
They can DFA him and he becomes a free agent. It opens up a roster spot. Taylor could have a handshake agreement with the FO. I’m not proposing this as a reality but as a thought, a creative way to open up a spot. I believe Taylor would be on the opening roster whether or not it was in the way I proposed or like it is now. I have a friend I used to coach against and his brother played for the Dodgers among a number of other teams. I saw where the Dodgers didn’t sign him to a new contract and I panicked. He told to just relax. By the time spring training was over this guy was on the roster. Sometimes one has to be creative and our front office has shown that they are not afraid to go away from the norm.
I get it, but I don’t think that it is going to happen. They have had plenty of time to DFA him already. Now, if he has a really bad spring training, I can see that happening.
Baseball America must be a bunch of hacks.
They assume that 2nd base will be mostly Kim with some occasional Betts.
Anyone who thinks Kim will be the 2nd baseman is obviously delusional.
I do agree with Bluto, however, that this was a good article.
Even a blind squirrel finds some nuts occasionally!
I must be delusional because I expect Kim to get plenty of action at 2B, assuming he stays healthy.
Why do I think this?
First, because Mookie is determined to play SS, and the brass is fine with that. (If Mookie wanted to play 2B, he’d play 2B. Perhaps the Dodgers would have signed the other Kim to play SS.)
Second, the Dodgers clearly signed Kim knowing that they’d be moving Lux, and would probably station Edman in CF. Kim’s defense is first-rate, and his offense should be OK for a guy batting 8th or 9th. The brass will give him time to adjust to ML pitching.
The projected lineup right now doesn’t seem to have much wiggle room—and it has Kim at 2B.
Injuries and spring training performance can change things. If Outman can reclaim a share of CF, Edman could play more 2B and SS.
If Mookie struggles at SS, he and Kim could trade positions, or perhaps Rojas or Edman could handle SS. Just a lot of options.
I find myself hoping for minor injuries to that prospects like Freeland and Rushing will get a chance in LA.
I was being facetious.
I would expect he would be considered the front runner to start at 2nd, or at least get a significant runway, although he hasn’t had a single MLB PA.
I mean, who else gets most of the reps? CT3? Rojas? We’re assuming Edman plays mostly CF, right?
Count me down as considering you guys delusional and crazy.
The guy could barely hit in the Korean league. I can see Edman there quite easily. I can see Kike there once the 60 day DL is populated.
I’m wrong quite often, but the Dodgers historically have preferenced offense over defense. Look no further than Betts, Teoscar, Lux and Muncy.
I don’t know about “barely hit.” He did hit over .335 with a nearly. 400 OBP and a wRC+ of 137. Add 25 SBs to that.
No power, but I don’t think you’re going to get that much more total offensive production from Kike or maybe even Edman, and the Dodgers didn’t get it from Lux.
My comp is his former teammate and current 2nd baseman of the Pods. His power is much better, has a lower BA, about a comparable wRC+. He’s a 3-4 WAR player because of his defense. The defense of the Kim the Dodgers got is exceptional, too.
3-4 WAR is 3-4 WAR.
Is everyone being facetious here?
OK, I’m really hoping AF can swing a few deals to get Miguel Vargas back to play 2B and Lux to play SS….
BA is very good at what they do.
Opening Day Lineup:
1. Ohtani DH
2. Betts SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Hernandez LF
5. Muncy 3B
6. Smith C
7. Conforto RF
8. Edman CF
9. Kim 2B
SP: Yamamoto
First Spring Training game: Feb 20 against the Cubs.
Opening of the season against the Cubs in Japan: Mar 18/19 (schedule shows Cubs as home team for both games).
Dodgers official home opener against the Tigers: Mar 27.
That’s a safe bet.
Injuries could change that, of course.
The most competitive position could be CF. Strong springs from Outman and Pages could challenge Edman for playing time.
Best case: Outman, a much better centerfielder than Pages, bounces back into at least a platoon role. In 353 ABs against righties in ’23, he hit to an .835 OPS with 22 HRs.
If Edman produced numbers like that, fans would be thrilled.
Pages is no threat to Edman. He is not a CF, he most likely will be platooning with Conforto. Outman definitely has to prove himself all over again, but the guy with the new 5 year deal has the inside track, bank on it.
The guy got the 5-year deal because of his ability to play multiple positions with high-quality defense. A couple months back, I was expecting Edman to share SS with Rojas as Mookie handled 2B.
We may be overestimating Edman’s offense because he played so well after joining the Dodgers. His career OPS+ is 100–precisely league average. That’s fine for a guy with his defense, versatility and acumen who is batting 8th or 9th. But Outman and Pages both have a higher offensive ceiling.
Certainly Pages is better in a corner, but he’s young and should improve. At any rate, I saw an interview with Roberts in which he described Outman and Pages as “very much alive” as candidates for CF. (Not dead yet!) Depending on how things shake out–injuries are always possible–we could see an Outman/Pages platoon that produces an OPS over .800 with 30+ HRs. Either Outman or Pages could start the season in OKC and get called up due to an injury to anyone other than a catcher.
In terms of defense in CF, I’d say that Outman and Edman are close to equal. On offense, Edman, a switch hitter, is strong against lefties, with a career OPS over .800, and about 140 points lower against righties. He and Outman could form a fine platoon–and that arrangement would also enable Roberts to deploy Edman at various positions when he isn’t in CF
BTW, I’ve read that a good comp for Sasaki is DeGrom.
Which could mean that he’s the best pitcher in baseball. . . and an injury waiting to happen.
That lineup with some ’24 details, starting with OPS:
Shohei 1.036, with 54 HRs and 59 steals…wins 3rd MVP
Mookie .863 with 19 HRs in 116 games
Freddie .854 with 22 HRs in 147 gmes
Teoscar .840 with 33 HRs, 99 RBI
Max .852 with 15 HRs in 74 games (a pace for another 35 HR, 100+ RBI season)
Smith .760, with 20 HRs
Conforto .759, with 20 HRs
Edman .711, with 6 HRs in only 37 games (not counting postseason)
Kim .841 in KBO, including a .383 OBP
–One reason I’m optimistic about Kim is that he walks nearly as often as he strikes out. Can he sustain the at-bat quality against stronger competition?
–Edman’s career OPS is .726 and his OPS+ is 100, meaning he is basically average as a hitter. As a switch-hitter UT option, he’s a good candidate for a platoon.
–Conforto uncharacteristically had reverse splits in ’24, but Pages or Taylor could be a platoon partner.
Opening Day Lineup:
1. Ohtani DH
2. Betts SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Hernandez LF
5. Muncy 3B
6. Smith C
7. Conforto RF
8. Outman CF
9. Edman 2B
“Roki Sasaki was named the No. 1 overall prospect in MLB by Baseball America and MLB Pipeline this week. That means his $6.5 million sweetheart deal just got even better for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Because those two outlets opted to rank Sasaki as a legitimate prospect, the Dodgers can officially receive a significant draft pick should Sasaki make their Opening Day roster (or be promoted in the first two weeks of the season) and either win Rookie of the Year or place in the top 3 of MVP or Cy Young voting in any of the next three seasons.
Sasaki is currently BetMGM’s favorite to win the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year award at +200 odds.
This is all due to MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI), the program instituted in the last collective bargaining agreement to disincentive teams from playing the service-time game with their top prospects. A player is eligible to earn his team a draft pick if he a) has rookie eligibility at the start of the season, b) accrues a near-full season’s worth of service time and c) appears in at least two of the Top 100 lists from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline and ESPN”.
Hard to believe Paxton pitched the 4th most innings for us.
How many innings these days earns the term “workhorse”?
Used to be 200… now maybe 150?
With a six-man rotation, are only thoroughbreds are allowed?…
Will there be any more workhorses?
Good stuff. With the proliferation of pitching injuries, I don’t see Prior and the boys increasing usage. My worthless opinion shows the Dodgers going with a 5.5 hybrid rotation. Openers, Bully games and Piggybacks will be utilized more frequently. Because of the max effort pitchers use, inning usage will have to be adjusted. That is why they stockpile arms. The FO is adjusting faster than any other team. Therefore I find it comical that all these losers…Bowden anyone?… say we’re bad for the game. The more the haters bash the Dodgers the happier I am.
Oh, and on another note. Once MLB pitchers find your kryptonite, you better adjust or you are toast. RIP Miguelito and James. To their credit they could sure hit MiLB pitching.
Book em
1. Tyler Cyr blames the Dodgers for having to retire.
2. The Alex Bregman rumors are getting more traction.
3. Jurickson Profar signs with the Braves because of “The Padres Ownership Situation.”
4. There are more rumors that Kershaw will not sign with the Dodgers.
Bregman? I would think not, except given the market for his services, it’s just what AF loos for.
I honestly would have been ok with Sasaki signing with the Pods.
Greatness is defined by the obstacles you overcome, and legitimate rivals bring out greatness.
Lakers had the Celtics. Yankees had Brooklyn. Merckx had Poulidor.
The toughest team the Dodgers faced in the playoffs were the Padres, and that rivalry is fun and good for the game.
Having the Padres implode over the ownership squabble and the Dodgers just cakewalk with a super team is not necessarily good for the game.
You’re already hearing it ad nauseum. “The Dodgers are ruining baseball!!” “They need a salary cap!”
Having a strong Padres team with Sasaki going against the Dodgers with Ohtani and Yosu would’ve been fun.
But I’ll take Sasaki.
Have not read that about Kersh anywhere. Everything I have read says he wants to retire as a Dodger. Kersh is 32 K’s short of 3000. He needs to do that in a Dodger uniform. He would be the first Dodger in their history to accomplish that.
1. Ohtani DH
2. Betts SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Hernandez LF
5. Muncy 3B
6. Bregman 2B
7. Conforto RF
8. Smith C
9. Edman CF
YIKES!
1. Ohtani DH
2. Betts SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Hernandez LF
5. Conforto RF
6. Bregman 3B
7. Outman CF
8. Smith C
9. Edman 2B
so all you dodgers fans ok with Bregman? not me ! he would have a lot of ass kissing to do and a lot of “i cheated and i’m sorry “ . maybe Clayton changes his mind about playing if they sign that butt hole.
I doubt that signing Bregman would alter CK’s desire to finish his career as a Dodger. In the game that they know for sure that the Astros were stealing signs, Bregman was not the hitter who did real damage. He is a solid player, and that was 8 years ago now. But I am not sure the Dodger brass would want to go long term with him. What do you then do with Muncy? You could trade the guy, or you could move him to second base. Bregman is better defensively, but he doesn’t have Muncy’s power. He is two years younger; he turns 31 in March. As for Kershaw, Gomes has said that once Kersh is through with his rehab, LA will look to re-signing him. Kersh has not yet thrown off of a mound.
Here is the final list of the Dodger’s 2025 International signings after signing Roki Sasaki, 4 catchers, 4 infielders, 6 pitchers and 2 outfielders:
01/19/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent SS Luis Luna to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent C Jhon GIl to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent C Moises Rangel to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Jose Villegas to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent C Ezequiel Aparicio to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Joseph Deng Thon to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent 3B Luis Tovar to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent OF Devlyn Bautista to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent SS Moises Acacio to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Derik Aquino to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent OF Degerson Diaz to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Ricardo Roman to a minor league contract.
01/18/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent SS Juan Macero to a minor league contract.
01/17/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent LHP Adrian Torres to a minor league contract.
01/17/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent C Jose Rivas to a minor league contract.
01/17/25 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Carlos Ramirez to a minor league contract.
Clayton retires? he finishes his career as a dodger. and as a clayton kershaw fan, the look on bregman’s face when he hit that homer off clayton. and clayton’s reaction to that”how did he hit that?”. i’m a true blue dodger guy for 60 plus years, no thanks to him. he should always be an aaaaassssstro! And Max is not a second baseman anymore. he will be ok at 3rd. i like the post saying Freeland could possibly slide into 3rd when max is done! Bowden now saying the DBacks are the second best team in the national league! he wrong a lot, but he maybe right on that!
Bregman hit 2 homers in that series, the one off of Kershaw came in game 1 and tied the game at 1. That game was at Dodger Stadium, so the Stros were not cheating there. The second came off of Tony Watson in game 4. Both of his homers in the series came in Astro losses. Not sure how that affected the series. By the way, Bregman hit only .238 in the series. Kersh will retire a Dodger. Hopefully he gets his third ring this year. Still leaves him 1 ring behind Koufax.
Not really sure why everyone seems so convinced that this will be CK’s last year.
If he comes back and he’s not effective, both he and the Dodgers will know he’s done.
On the other hand, what if he’s really healthy for the first time in quite a while and for whatever time he pitches in 2025 he’s really effective? Being the competitor he is, why would he want to quit if he feels he’s still got a lot left in the tank. In recent years, he’s been very good when he’s been healthy. He might just stick around for a few more years.
100% agree!
I am sorry, I know we are called upon to turn from judging our fellow man and to instead forgive and focus on our own flaws. But forgiveness does not preclude consequences. Mr. Bregman was very much part of stealing not just signs but the sanctity of something truly precious to millions of fans. It may be too precious and too important to me, but this game and the Dodgers have and will always be a big part of the joy of life for me. I am not alone on that. If I were Clayton I would indeed retire before I played with him. I hope the Dodgers are more sensitive than to ask not just Clayton but their fans to swallow such a decision.
amen John! well said! he should always never be a part of a Los Angeles Dodger world series celebration , unless he’s watching from the other dugout! by the way, the same goes for for altuve, springer, and especially correa! nuff said!!
in a different sport. Tom Brady may well be the greatest quarterback ever. But his voice on tv broadcast? finger nails on a chalkboard!!!
Bergman in Dodger blue makes me want to vomit. I understand and maybe forgive or forget the sign stealing but the arrogance and lack of retribution makes it impossible (for me anyway) to forgive that flipping asswipe. If they acquire him I guess that’s life but I for one will hope he strikes out every at bat and then traded to the White Sox’s to anguish in that train wreck the rest of his career.
In a somewhat related story (how fans look at past behavior), Trevor Bauer just signed with Yokohama in the NPB. He pitched there in 2023, then last year in Mexico, now back to Japan.
How would you feel about Bauer coming back to the States to pitch, John?
I, for one, do not put a lot of stock into the Bregman rumors.