There’s less than a handful of days left until the season starts. Alanna, Joe, and Orel are covering a Dodger game tonight together for the first time since the season was suspended a 130 days ago. And it’s a perfect 75 degrees in Los Angeles. Today has satisfaction written all over it. But let’s get you caught up with some Dodger news from Saturday.
Pitcher Tony Gonsolin was optioned to the alternate training site, according to the team’s transaction page, on Friday as well as Saturday (go figure) to build up his innings. Gonsolin arrived late to camp, for reasons undisclosed, and had only thrown a few bullpen sessions before yesterday. He will not be on the active 30 man roster to start the season but is expected to contribute substantially throughout the 60 games.
Walker Buehler will throw for three innings against hitters on Wednesday, the day before the season starts. The Dodgers open the season with a four game series in Los Angeles against the San Francisco Giants, which could slot Buehler to make his season debut in Houston next Tuesday.
Relief pitcher Pedro Baez threw a bullpen session on Friday. He won’t pitch in any of the exhibition games but is still expected to be available for the start of the season. The Dodgers activated Pedro Baez from the injured list on Tuesday, according to the team’s transaction page. The reason for his IL stint is unknown.
Both Ross Stripling and Tony Gonsolin pitched in a simulated game on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Assuming Stripling doesn’t take the mound in any of the three exhibition games, he would line up starting the second game of the season after Clayton Kershaw.
Mitchell White will be the starting pitcher against the Diamondbacks today. Julio Urias will start Monday’s game against the Dbacks. It hasn’t been announced who will start the final exhibition game on Tuesday against the Angels. Alex Wood is set to throw a simulated game on Monday. In theory, Wood could instead start against the Angels on Tuesday, providing a better outlook of the rotation. If that’s to be the case, the presumed rotation for the first five games will go as follows: Clayton Kershaw, Ross Stripling, Julio Urias, and Alex Wood against the Giants with Walker Buehler against the Astros for the road opener.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts held a meeting with the training staff, strength and conditioning coaches, and the travel secretary to go over safety protocols for when the team travels.
The Television Academy hosted the Los Angeles based Emmy Awards yesterday and awarded Spectrum SportsNet LA’s “Access SportsNet Dodgers” program as the best live broadcasted sports series.
The #LAEmmys for Sports Series, Live Broadcast goes to the Spectrum SportsNet LA Team (@SpectrumSN) for “Access SportsNet Dodgers.” pic.twitter.com/Ia2oSSjiAX
— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) July 19, 2020
Oskar is a writer for Dodgers-Lowdown. Follow him on Twitter @2Rawsko94. Graphic credit: Alberto Amezola, Jr.