Clayton Kershaw starts on Opening Day, followed by Trevor Bauer, Striker (never call him Walker) Buehler, Julio Urias and [DRUM ROLL]… Dustin May! To those of you who worried his season would be wasted on the bench: Don’t Worry! He is in the rotation and Tony Gonsolin and David Price are in the bullpen. With Jimmy Nelson in the bullpen as well, the Dodgers can save the “backend” of the bullpen as well by allowing Nelson, Gonsolin and Price to pitch multiple innings.
It’s like having three additional starters in the bullpen. Well, it’s not like that. It is that! This 2021 bullpen should be outstanding! The pen is set, except for the last spot, which is between Scott Alexander and Dennis Santana, both of whom have options left. Both will see time with the team this year – it just depends upon whether the Dodger Brass wants a LH or a RH option in the pen. The roster is set, except for that. Here’s the list:
- Smith
- Barnes
- Muncy
- Lux
- Taylor
- Seager
- Turner
- Rios
- Pollock
- Beaty
- Bellinger
- Betts
- McKinstry
- Kershaw
- Bauer
- Buehler
- Urias
- May
- Price
- Nelson
- Gonsolin
- Gonzalez
- Knebel
- Treinen
- Jansen
- Alexander or Santana
Alexander pitched last night and gave up two hits and a run, so I am guessing Santana will pitch tonight and how he pitches will decide who makes the Opening Day Roster. Good Luck Dennis! You have came a long way!
Rants & Raves
- Kaybear Ruiz will not make the squad because he only got 5 hits in 6 AB’s. He drove in 5 runs in those 6 AB’s and is OPS’ing 2.000. His bat-to-ball skills are outstanding.
- The Dodgers lineup is outstanding, but they could use another RH bat, whether that is Noisy or someone else. Matt Beaty could be headed elsewhere at some point… and that would be great for him.
- If Kenley Jansen or Clayton Kershaw decline this year, there is nothing to worry about. They have the pieces to fix it.
- Is the Bazooka going to pitch this year or were the Red Sox right about his medical records? Hummmm… The Dodgers ain’t saying.
- What about Joe Kelly? Some fans say to release him. the Dodgers have to pay him, so they might as well see if they can get anything out of him. However, at this juncture, I am not confident.
- It looks like Ross Stripling will be the 6th Starter for the Blue Jays.
Photo compliments of The LA Dodgers
Discussion (41)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Deeper dive into Nelson shows his spin rates improved dramatically in his breakout 2017 season. He went from innings-eater to frontline starter.
I don’t think it was a fluke. Could be some of that magic potion that Bauer uses… and who else? If MLB is really going to crack down on foreign substances, the Dodgers may have more of concern than most teams. (b
Glad to see May get the last rotation spot. He has ace potential. Props to Price for welcoming a new role.
I’m glad to see May get a chance, he has nasty stuff and is obviously a little quirky, Darth Bozo! “Docccc, I ammm yourrrr BOZO!”
Opener is finally here, “Ladies and Gentlemen start your social distancing!”
I still don’t understand letting Kolarek go?
Makes no sense to me.
For all we know, the Betts negotiation was exactly like the Lindor one.
Except the details weren’t leaked.
Not fair to the player.
Our guys are pros.
Jimmy Nelson is a late bloomer who had a good year in 2017 and has been injured since. He threw 93-94 in 2017 and is now routinely hitting 95 and Dave Roberts said this: ““I thought the stuff would play if he was healthy, as it has, but I didn’t realize the command he has of his mix. The two-seamer, the four-seamer, the slider, and the curveball. Just the command overall, he’s done a really good job, from his side sessions into the games. I’m really, really pleased.”
Jimmy may go back to starting next year, but I look for him to pitch multiple innings a lot this year.
According to Jorge Castillo of the LA Times, the last bullpen spot will be going to……………………………………………………….
Clem Labine. Oops, typo, Scott Alexander.
For those of you who miss Alanna Rizzo, she’s going back to her old stomping grounds at MLB network. Before she joined the Dodgers she was a regular on Intentional Talk (Millar and Rose). She will now be a “regular contributor” on Chris “Mad Dog” Russo’s show. If you can’t handle Russo, it’s going to be hard to sit through his screaming waiting for Alanna to show up, but if you like the Mad Dog, this will just be something else to look forward to.
May is no surprise. He has stuff as good as anybody on this staff.
We will see a lot of movement through the course of the year. I figure at least 8 different starters. And there are sticks o’plenty throughout the organization. Yes, this team is loaded. We SHOULD be favored and we are.
I had Ruiz and Smith last year. Ruiz is ready.
Has Ruiz’ clock started? Why would the team start his MLB time in LF?
Read the Mets offered Linder a 10 year 325 million dollar contract. He countered with 12 year 385 million.
Yes this team is loaded and ready…
But you know what?? I’m really happy for Doc… He has escaped the constant criticism he endured last year and I hope him and his shrink are ready for the season…
Hey Quas
Just saw your message and offer 2 days ago. Thank you so much! That is an insanely nice thing to offer. It would be fun to go to a game with you and discuss this blog.
In fact, can’t wait until we all leach off of Mark and stuff 60 of us in his suite at Dodger Stadium.
This team is L O A D E D
I like the idea of Ruiz playing some left field if only to enhance his versatility. Perhaps he could also try 3B; many catchers do.
That said, I’m not so sure another right-handed bat on the bench is all that important.
Say that Barnes starts 40% of the games, then Will Smith and Chris Taylor can come off the bench. Not shabby at all. And when Smith catches, it’s not like Barnes is totally incompetent with a bat.
Plus, Rios actually has reverse splits. (Just looked it up.) The sample size is small, but so far he’s crushed lefthanded pitching in the majors. Maybe this isn’t a fluke. And when he gets a spot start at 3B, then Turner is a great right-handed bat off the bench.
Beatty’s splits are more conventional.
As for McKinstry… we’ll see. But the bat-to-ball skills seem pretty good.
Bench needs a right hand bat. Ruiz is a switch hitter. Let him play some left field in the minors.