Dodgers: Predicting the 30-man roster as summer camp opens

Predicting the Dodgers 30-man roster: Pitchers

This is where the four extra roster spots will come in handy for the Dodgers.

The starting rotation will most likely include these five pitchers:

• Clayton Kershaw, LHP
• Walker Buehler, RHP
• Julio Urias, LHP
• Alex Wood, LHP
• Ross Stripling, RHP

The back of the bullpen will likely feature the following arms:

• Kenley Jansen, RHP
• Pedro Baez, RHP
• Joe Kelly, RHP
• Blake Treinen, RHP

That leaves seven open roster spots to provide bullpen depth. I will break the remaining openings into two separate categories: middle relief and long relief.

In the middle relief category, it’s important to consider a balance among right-handers and left-handers. I would expect right-handers Dylan Floro and Brusdar Graterol are secure in their roster spots, along with left-hander Caleb Ferguson.

The Dodgers must then decide how many extra lefties they want to carry to start the season, considering their starting rotation is already southpaw dominated. Both Adam Kolarek (LHP) and Scott Alexander (LHP) are strong candidates to make the 30-man roster. However, the team could also look to someone like Dennis Santana (RHP) as a suitable option.

In the long-relief category, it seems most obvious to carry the team’s two best young starters in Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin. If either end up in the starting rotation in place of David Price, you can exchange Ross Stripling’s name here.

Obviously, as summer camp progresses, injuries and performance could alter the make-up of the 30-man roster, but this seems like a solid starting point.