With Dustin May lost for the remainder of the season due to Tommy John surgery and Tony Gonsolin not yet ready — or eligible — to come off the 60-day injured list, the Los Angeles Dodgers are again in need of a bullpen for the next turn through the starting rotation.
The last came Sunday in the series finale against the Miami Marlins, and now the team will rely on their relief pitchers Thursday in the final game with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After acknowledging there was consideration to pushing Trevor Bauer back to Friday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the change.
Who would serve as the opener in the bullpen game has not yet been decided and likely will hinge somewhat on who pitches Wednesday night.
Bauer tied a season high with 113 pitches, which he’s thrown three times this year, his last time out. The seven innings of work tied for his second-longest start of the season.
The right-hander has made it clear he prefers pitching every four days — much less on extra rest — but the change allows the Dodgers to start Bauer, Walker Buehler and Julio Urias for the series against the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants.
Bauer got back on line
After consecutive starts in which Bauer said he expected to labor because of daily measurements and evaluations taken on himself, there was improvement against the Marlins. He allowed just two hits and the 10 strikeouts matched a season high.
“I think my command was pretty darn good all night. I didn’t have very many large misses, so command was good. My body felt really good coming into the start, I knew I was going to have my really good stuff,” Bauer said after the game.
“In Chicago, I just didn’t feel great. My body just didn’t recover. I was kind of half a day behind recovery-wise that entire cycle. Against Anaheim, yeah, I was kind of sick. I woke up a little sick that morning with a bug. Everything cleared out, had a really good cycle this time, felt great coming into today. Happy about that.”
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, participate in our shows and giveaways, and more!
