Just like every season, especially in the Spring, things never turn out the way you think… especially due to injuries, and the Dodgers have quietly had quite a few on the pitching side. Here’s the short list of injuries that will shape the Dodger’s Opening Day Roster:
- Bobby Miller was a candidate until he ran his cranium into a 106 MPH line drive. That’s probably going to put him on the IL or at OKC to start the season.
- Evan Phillips (who is best friends with Tanner Scott) is close, but the Dodgers will likely slow-walk him on the IL for the first few weeks of the season.
- Michael Kopech is also experiencing problems… including forearm tightness, which is not good – we all know what that can mean.
- Michael Grove is likely a late bloomer who is disrespected by many Dodger fans but whose upside is considerable has some shoulder soreness and will be held out for a while.
- Edgardo Henriquez is a rookie who had a shot at making the roster, but he is in a walking boot for four to six weeks. The Dodgers aren’t saying what happened, but it was allegedly “off-the-field” and presumably did not involve putting his foot into his mouth!
We are pretty sure these pitchers will be in the bullpen:
- Tony Gonsolin or Dustin May (whoever is not in the rotation) (R)
- Anthony Banda (L)
- Alex Vesia (L)
- Ben Casparius (R)
- Blake Treinen (R)
- Tanner Scott (L)
- Kirby Yates (R)
By the Way, the Rotation will be:
- Blake Snell
- Yoshi Yamamoto
- Roki Susaki
- Tyler Glasnow
- Tony Gonsolin or Dustin May
That leaves one spot in the bullpen, and in my mind, the final spot comes down to two lefthanders: Justin Wrobleski and Jack Dreyer. I think it will be Dreyer for two reasons:
- Wrobleski needs to be in a rotation… and OKC will work.
- Dreyer has more movement on his fastball than any other pitcher in MLB – Vesia was #1 last year and Dreyer is even more filthy from the left side!
Jack Dreyer, welcome to MLB! BTW, he can solve a Rubik’s Cube in 20 seconds.
Dodgers MLB TOP 30 by Jim Callis
Callis doesn’t even list Dreyer in the Dodger’s top 30 prospects. That’s how deep we are in pitching in the minors.
Such a strong team. So much depth.
Too much?
David Bote has been the spring “MVP,” according to Dave Roberts. But DodgerBlue reports that if Bote doesn’t make the roster, he can opt out of his minor league deal and sign elsewhere.
Some teams are probably hovering.
So this raises a question…
Would the Dodgers simply release Taylor to make room for Bote? That would be a lot of salary to eat. Or could the desire to keep Bote (no kid at 31) prompt a trade?
I keep thinking a team like the O’s would be a good match because they need pitching and have a surplus of young hitters. What other teams could match up?
I think Outman and Pages get optioned, and the Dodgers open the season with Bote. There will be injuries, especially since the Dodgers have a lot of “thirtysomething” players. Bote has earned the chance, and Outman and Pages need to go to AAA to polish their games. Rushing, Feduccia, Pages, and maybe Outman will be on the OKC Shuttle.
“ I think Outman and Pages get optioned, and the Dodgers open the season with Bote. “ This!
A LOT of guys will be frequent fliers to OKC in ‘25.
Management’s strategy/challenge will be arriving in the post season with a dramatically healthier rotation than in ‘24.
Just hoping for no serious injuries to….was going to say the “big four” – Ohtani, Mookie, Freddie & Teo….but honestly, this whole starting lineup is “big”! Already mildly concerned about Will. GO DODGERS!!
Someone is going to get injured and miss significant time.
Who?
IDK!
Bote is a LONGSHOT at best. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves because the guy has been good with 22 AB’s! Kim most likely will start in the minors so IMO Pages has the edge because he is serviceable in CF. Bote is a replica of Taylor and Kike.
Agree on pitching staff. I have it same way, although they could substitute a short-term NRI in Dreyer’s spot until one of the rehabbing guys is ready.
Grove is a former 2nd rounder who is now 28 and has pretty terrible career numbers. I always liked him, as his delivery & stuff reminded me of Buehler’s but he has to prove it on the field.
Lots of relievers finally “get it” as they near 30! I think Grove will be in that category.
Jared Karros was pretty impressive yesterday. 2 innings plus one batter. In fact the Dodger pen as a whole was impressive. Knack, not so much. He still leaves too many pitches right in the middle of the plate. Jacques has some nasty stuff from the left side too. Rosario with 2nd spring homer, tying Bote and Freddie.
CT3 aint going anywhere folks, and I am fine with that.
Is he the CT3 of 17…no.
But he is still a good MLB player that cant play just about any position and play it well. I look for a good year from CT3….
False.
He was well below replacement level for most of last year
The Roster we start with won’t be the roster we end with!
That is for sure!
3:05 PM ET
Rangers (78-84) (5-7)
Dodgers (98-64) (8-6)
SP David Buchanan R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Dustin May R
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
C Will Smith R
LF M. Conforto L
CF Tommy Edman S
2B Miguel Rojas R
67° Wind 18 mph out
Pretty close to a Dodger starting lineup
It’s time for May to step up and show us something after his last disasterous start.
Why Mookie is playing SS and Rojas 2B is confusing to me….
I get Mookie wants to play SS, but is that best for the team…..we will find out…
Rojas is no longer an everyday player and if Mookie wants to play SS, he will play SS unless he shows he can’t!
Yup will find out.
SS is a tough position, hopefully he can do it.
Opening Day?
I predict that the Dodgers “MIGHT” let Ohtani come in and pitch to a batter or two in Japan.
You are predicting something might happen?
L O L.
I am predicting an asteroid might hit the US.
I am also here by predicting the tariffs might increase inflation!
And I have a new prediction. Tariffs might increase domestic manufacturing!
Taylor is a tariff.
It’s an interesting analog!
If you are net negative:
Both are all tactics that don’t seem to work, that those in power are trying to make work.
OK, I will change my prediction to a “definite maybe!”
Love it!
According to the Dodgers website, Ohtani is backing off of his throwing program and will not face hitters until they return from Japan. Kim will start the season in the minors. Outman looks like he is headed there also. May had three scoreless today. Ferris gave up a two run-bomb for the only runs he allowed. He struck out 5 though. Treinen was tagged for the other two runs. According to MLBTR, Roberts and the Dodgers have made progress on his extension. They hope to have it done before the team leaves for Japan. May might have the inside track on the fifth starter job simply because the Dodgers believe Gonsolin, who so far has not given up a run, is better suited than May to pitch out of the pen.
Here is the Dodger’s roster for the Spring Breakout game against the Cubs. The Dodgers’ prospects take on their Cubs counterparts on March 13 at Camelback Ranch. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. PDT/MST.
PITCHERS
Jackson Ferris, LHP, No. 4 (MLB No. 70)
Hyun-Seok Jang, RHP, No. 17
Jose Rodriguez, RHP, No. 29
Chris Campos, RHP, NR
Carson Hobbs, RHP, NR
Ronan Kopp, LHP, NR
Kelvin Ramirez, RHP, NR
Lucas Wepf, RHP, NR
Reynaldo Yean, RHP, NR
CATCHERS
Carlos Rojas, C, NR
Yeiner Fernandez, C, NR
Nelson Quiroz, C, NR
INFIELDERS
Emil Morales, SS, No. 7
Kellon Lindsey, SS, No. 8
Joendry Vargas, SS, No. 12
Chase Harlan, 3B, No. 20
Logan Wagner, 1B/3B, No. 26
Kyle Nevin, 3B, NR
Nico Perez, SS, NR
Joe Vetrano, 1B, NR
OUTFIELDERS
Josue De Paula, OF, No. 3 (MLB No. 40)
Zyhir Hope, OF, No. 6 (MLB No. 74)
Eduardo Quintero, OF, No. 9
Kendall George, OF, No. 15
Ching-Hsien Ko, OF, No. 16
Mike Sirota, OF, No. 21
Jaron Elkins, OF, No. 24
MLB.TV, MLB.com, MLB App, Gameday
Diego Cartaya with the Twins this Spring 5AB 1BB 5K. Not ready for prime time or will he ever be ready for prime time?
Now do Thayron Liranzo.
Not great. https://www.mlb.com/player/thayron-liranzo-699073?stats=career-r-hitting-minors&year=2025
Can someone tell me who the picture on this post is please – number 89?
He might have the most sloping shoulders I’ve ever seen!!!
Justin Jarvis #89
It’s Jack Dreyer not Justin Jarvis.
Thanks Andrew – have you dropped the V from AVF??
Still can’t get over those shoulders!!
Like a beer bottle!!!
No the V will be back. Don’t know how it was eliminated.
Love the picture of Koufax and Kershaw. Must of been taken when Kershaw first came up because he’s wearing his former number 54.
AND….he’s clean shaven.
The Dodgers have reassigned five players — catchers Griffin Lockwood-Powell and Chris Okey, as well as infielders Alex Freeland, Austin Gauthier, and Kody Hoese — to minor league camp.
With the latest round of cuts, the Dodgers now have 52 players in Major League camp.
So much for Ohtani pitching in Japan
The Los Angeles Dodgers have decided to halt Shohei Ohtani’s throwing program, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.
Maybe it’s halted?
It’s still a definite maybe! 😉
“Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Thursday that Ohtani will not face hitters as a pitcher before going to Japan so that he can ramp up his preparations as a hitter, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ohtani threw his last bullpen Feb. 25. He has continued to playing catch according to manager Dave Roberts, but they are giving him a pause from ramping up his pitching so he can intensify his hitting. Roberts also talked about May as a potential time for Ohtani’s return to pitching, but added that they “just don’t know” when the NL MVP will be able to take the mound, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports”.
Yes, the photo is of Jack Dreyer. Maybe you are more familiar with him and facial hair:
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Andrew Friedman made it clear when he joined #DodgerTalk at DodgerFest Shohei Ohtani wouldn’t face hitters during spring training. Nothing changed.
Toyoko is not Spring Training.
Ohtoni does NOT pitch in the Cub series in Japan. Bet it!!!!
He wont pitch till May, do we really need him to?
With the early schedule and multiple days off ,we can survive without Ohtoni until he is 100% ready to go and we can limit his innings and have him ready for October baseball. That’s the plan.
My guess is Ohtani will be “100%” very very soon BUT Dodgers management wants to “preserve” him as much as possible for the post season.
The same with Glasnow and all the pitchers coming back from injury. HOPING to end up with a reliable rotation for the post season while still having a strong enough rotation to GET TO the post season.
My thinking is that as much as Sasaki and Yamamoto are stars in Japan, Ohtani is THE BIGGEST STAR! As a two-way player, he is unrivaled. That is why I think it is still possible he comes into a game with two outs and pitches to one batter. I am not saying it WILL happen… just saying it COULD happen. The crowd would love it.
If he resumed throwing then yes, might happen.
8:40 PM ET
Dodgers (98-64) ( 9-6)
Mariners (85-77) (5-9)
SP Matt Sauer R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Emerson Hancock R
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Tommy Edman S
LF M. Conforto L
RF T. Hernandez R
CF E. Hernandez R
C A. Barnes R
3B Chris Taylor R
DH James Outman L
1B M. Chavis R
SS Hyeseong Kim L
24% Rain
54° Wind 6 mph R-L
Pitching change: Justin Wrobleski now the starting ptcher
I’m gonna take a huge gamble here.
Ohtani will pitch in Tokyo unless he doesn’t. Best I can do.
Book em
“The Los Angeles Dodgers made their third round of roster cuts following their Cactus League victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night, this time removing seven pitchers from Major League Spring Training.
The Dodgers reassigned left-handed pitchers Jackson Ferris, Joe Jacques and Jose E. Hernández and right-handers Sam Carlson, Jared Karros, Jack Little and Jose Rodriguez to Minor League camp. Their roster now stands at 45 players total as they work to trim it down to the 31-man travel roster for Tokyo and eventually the 26-man roster for Opening Day”.
You NEVER have enough pitching!
Geritt Cole is scheduled to undergo diagnostic tests on his right elbow, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
“Cole surrendered six earned runs on five hits over 2.2 innings during his spring outing Thursday, and he said after the game that he was struggling with command — particularly of his fastball. The 34-year-old righty missed most of the first half of last season due to elbow trouble, and it seems like the Yankees are at least somewhat concerned those issues have resurfaced. More will be known regarding his status within the next several day”.
i don’t think the dodgers should trade Wrobleski! That dude has serious talent! seen his name tossed around in rumors, but i believe the dodgers will keep him. i just wish the organization could develop position players like they do pitchers! Will Smith is the best to come through the ranks in recent seasons. Lots of prospects but not a lot of mlb results. Rushing,Depaula,Hope, all hyped but not sure what they will be. After watching Kim this spring, he looks like he’s quite a ways from being a major league hitter. Speed and defense is there, but not so much at the plate. … Conforto looks like a great acquisition! I expect 25 and 85 from him this season! … My biggest concern is center field if Edman is going to play second. Pages is not the answer in center field! ….. Maybe they make a trade before they go to japan. … Anyone heard anything about Clayton?