Dodgers right-hander Gavin Stone instructed members of the media, together with Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, that supervisor Dave Roberts knowledgeable him he’ll break camp because the membership’s fifth starter.
The rotation for the Dodgers has loads of shifting elements resulting from well being and can possible be in flux all year long, however they entered Spring Coaching with 4 spots accounted for. Tyler Glasnow is a lock since he has been a borderline ace on a fee foundation in recent times, although with out the well being to supply that manufacturing in a quantitative sense. However the Dodgers clearly consider in him, as they acquired him in a notable offseason commerce after which shortly signed him to an extension that runs by way of 2028. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has but to make his main league debut however parlayed his dominance in Japan right into a 12-year, $325MM contract.
Bobby Miller has earned a spot after a strong exhibiting final yr, whereby he tossed 124 1/3 innings with a 3.76 ERA and strong peripherals to match. James Paxton shall be there as effectively after he signed a one-year, $7MM pact within the offseason with incentives.
Walker Buehler might have been in line for the fifth spot nevertheless it appears he and the Dodgers have determined to gradual play his season a bit. He underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in 2022 and virtually returned late in 2023 however ended up not dashing and subsequently sitting out the whole season. That places him within the place of going into 2024 presumably wholesome however possible with workload limitations. He threw 207 2/3 innings in 2021 however was restricted to only 65 the yr after earlier than the surgical procedure after which missed 2023. Moderately than begin him within the rotation and need to shut him down in some unspecified time in the future, it appears he and the membership are going to have him be a bit behind everybody else, rising his odds of being round for a stretch run and the playoffs.
That left pitchers like Stone, Ryan Yarbrough, Michael Grove, Emmet Sheehan and others as choices to take a spot behind Glasnow, Yamamoto, Miller and Paxton. Sheehan was taken out of the competitors a few weeks in the past when it was reported that he would start the season on the injured record resulting from shoulder soreness.
Ultimately, Stone received the job due to some encouraging outcomes final yr and a robust efficiency in spring this yr. He made his MLB debut in 2023 however allowed 31 earned runs in as many innings, although that’s a small pattern dimension and likewise got here in a reasonably unstable vogue. He made 4 begins and 4 aid appearances round frequent non-compulsory assignments. He had a bigger pattern dimension of 100 2/3 innings at Triple-A, whereby he posted a 4.74 ERA. His 27.8% strikeout fee was fairly sturdy and his 43.2% floor ball fee near common, although his 10.7% stroll fee a tad excessive.
Right here in camp this yr, he has tossed 9 2/3 innings of official motion with a 0.93 ERA. He has punched out 9 hitters whereas strolling only one and permitting just one earned run. The Dodgers performed an exhibition recreation in opposition to Crew Korea at present in preparation for his or her Seoul Collection and Stone tossed 3 1/3 scoreless with eight punchouts, one stroll and no hits.
He’ll slot into the again of the rotation for now, although the rotation shall be continually altering this yr. Buehler will slot in someplace at any time when he’s ramped up and able to go. Sheehan might get again in there if he will get over his shoulder difficulty. Dustin Might underwent flexor tendon and Tommy John revision surgical procedure final summer time and will rejoin the membership in some unspecified time in the future. Clayton Kershaw underwent shoulder surgical procedure within the offseason and is concentrating on a return in the summertime. Tony Gonsolin is extra of a protracted shot since he underwent Tommy John on September 1 of final yr and can most likely simply be nearing readiness because the 2024 season is winding down.
On high of all that, new accidents are certain to crop up all through the season as they all the time do. Taking all that collectively, there’ll most likely be little or no consistency within the rotation this yr. However there may be undoubtedly heaps of expertise right here and the membership appears prone to be in good condition, no matter who is definitely taking the ball. For now, Stone has a possibility and can look to benefit from it. If different pitchers return to well being and he will get squeezed out in some unspecified time in the future, he might transfer to a protracted aid position within the bullpen or be despatched all the way down to the minors, since he nonetheless has a few possibility years remaining.