Dodgers projected 26 man roster before free agency

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: The Los Angeles Dodgers dug out celebrate after Max Muncy #13 hit a two run home run in the first inning of game five of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: The Los Angeles Dodgers dug out celebrate after Max Muncy #13 hit a two run home run in the first inning of game five of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 09: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the fourth inning of game five of the National League Division Series against at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Dodger pitchers currently projected to make the 26 man roster

Even with the possible losses of Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill, the Dodgers have a ton of starting pitching depth as they enter free agency.  It could force the Dodgers to be pickier in their free-agent considerations and only shoot for elite starters like Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg.  Here are the 13 pitchers likely to crack the opening day roster prior to free agency.

Starting pitchers (5):

Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda, Ross Stripling, Dustin May

The last two spots in the rotation are truly interchangeable.  The case for a rotation spot could be made for Ross Stripling, Julio Urias, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin.  Given that the youngsters will be on an innings limit for 2020, Stripling gets a rotation spot and May gets the fifth spot although he will be swapped out at times for Julio Urias and Tony Gonsolin.

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Kenta Maeda will pitch out of the rotation during the regular season again.  Buehler, Kershaw, and Maeda are locks to start the 2020 season in the Dodgers’ rotation.  Depending on what goes down via trade or free agency, Ross Stripling should get a chance to start whether its for the Dodgers or another club.

Relievers (8):

Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Pedro Baez, Adam Kolarek, Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin, Yimi Garcia, Casey Sadler

The addition of an extra roster spot will be a big benefit for the Dodgers in 2020 as they annually have problems trying to squeeze all their starters onto their opening day roster.  Julio Urias and Tony Gonsolin will get chances to start but to keep their innings down, they will start out in the bullpen.  Then the last two spots come down to the options games.

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Casey Sadler, Caleb Ferguson, and Yimi Garcia are all out of options in addition to JT Chargois.  Two of the four will likely crack the opening day roster as the roster currently stands.  Scott Alexander, Caleb Ferguson, and Dylan Floro still have options left so they will begin the season with the Oklahoma City Dodgers barring some moves involving any of the three out of option relievers.  The roster should look different after the off-season but how different remains the big question.