Dodgers: Three questions left to answer in September

How does the pitching staff sort out for October?

For a team with the best record in the National League, the Dodgers’ pitching staff has a lot of questions left to answer in September.  The first one is how will the starting rotation sort out for the postseason?  Rich Hill needs to prove he can make it back and pitch effectively, and if he cannot who do the Dodgers turn to?

Tony Gonsolin has pitched better than Dustin May although Tony has proven he can pitch effectively out of the bullpen.  Dustin May will try pitching in relief again today after his first relief appearance ended with a loss and a grand slam allowed.  If May cannot pitch out of the bullpen, he could miss the postseason roster altogether if Hill is the fourth playoff starter.

Then there is the bullpen.  The locks seem to be Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Pedro Baez, Julio Urias, and Kenta Maeda.  That means there are three spots left in the postseason bullpen.  Adam Kolarek, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May are the favorites to lock down those three spots entering September but the competition remains tough.

Ross Stripling, Casey Sadler, Caleb Ferguson, Dylan Floro, and Yimi Garcia are just a few of the pitchers that will try to make their postseason roster case in September.  Assuming everyone is healthy, Stripling and Sadler could be tough cuts and left off of the postseason roster.  It will be interesting to see how the competition plays out.