Dodgers: What Jimmy Nelson means for the rest of the pitching staff

Can Jimmy Nelson crack the Dodger rotation?

As the Dodgers currently stand, their rotation figures to include three locks which are Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, and Kenta Maeda.  The two rotation spots after those three are likely to go to Julio Urias and Dustin May.  Ross Stripling and Tony Gonsolin will also get a fair run at the rotation spots and apparently so will Jimmy Nelson.

Although the Dodgers view Nelson as a bullpen project, he has enough upside that they are going to give him work as a starting pitcher in spring training.  If Nelson proves to be back to his previous form, there is a chance that he can bounce Dustin May or Julio Urias back to the bullpen.  Both Urias and May will likely have an innings limit of some kind in 2020 so the Dodgers could get ahead of that limit by starting one or both of them in the bullpen to begin the 2020 season.

Whether Nelson begins the season in the rotation or bullpen, like much of the pitching staff, there is a good chance he will pitch in multiple roles next season.  From spot starts to high leverage relief innings, Jimmy Nelson could be another Ross Stripling type utility pitcher.

Should Jimmy Nelson struggle in spring training he will be bounced to the bullpen and then the competition will really begin to heat up.