Dodgers 2020 spring training primer: Starting rotation

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Starting pitcher Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers 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: Starting pitcher Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers 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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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 26: Dustin May #85 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 26, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

The two rotation wildcards

The biggest wildcards (or X-factors) in the Dodgers’ spring training rotation battle are Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin.  Both starters made appearances out of the rotation and bullpen for the Dodgers in 2019 but the plan for both is unclear if they do not make the starting rotation out of spring training.  The Dodgers could send them to the bullpen but that seems to be a waste of their innings.

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Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin have not thrown more than 160 innings in a full season between the majors and minor leagues so both are likely to be on an innings limit in 2020.  It may not be a strict innings limit like the Dodgers have used in the past, but it’s highly unlikely either spends a full season in the starting rotation.  The Dodgers could start both in Triple-A in order to get them starter innings while limiting them to four to five-inning starts.

While May and Gonsolin have the stuff to crack the opening day rotation, it seems like the Dodgers’ initial plan is to get Alex Wood and Julio Urias a chance to start coming out of spring training.  Kenta Maeda is also expected to begin the season in the rotation but if any of the three struggle, May and Gonsolin will be ready to start in a pinch for the blue.

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The Dodgers may not have landed Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg this off-season but they will begin spring training with plenty of talent in the starting pitching department.  They will enter spring training with as many as nine starting pitchers all capable of giving the team quality innings in the big leagues.  The rotation battle will be the biggest of the spring and if the injury bug bites the Dodgers again they will have plenty of options waiting in the wings.