Dodgers’ rookie bullpen highlight is gunning for temporary spot in depleted rotation

In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes and the Los Angeles Dodgers' pitching staff getting ravaged by injuries.

After the injuries piled up and forced them to use a record-breaking 40 pitchers last season, the Dodgers already appear to be headed down a similar road in 2025.

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell lasted just two starts before landing on the injured list with shoulder inflammation; veteran reliever Blake Treinen didn't even make it a month into the season before an injury flared up in his forearm. Tyler Glasnow was forced to leave early in his second consecutive start due to shoulder pain. The return timelines for all three remain unknown.

Fortunately, the Dodgers learned from last season and stockpiled plenty of pitching depth to make sure they wouldn't run out of healthy arms again. They're set to get Tony Gonsolin back from an IL stint this week, which will help, but there aren't enough bullpen games in the world that can make up for the losses of both Snell and Glasnow.

Even after Gonsolin returns, the Dodgers will still need another starter, and the answer might be right under their noses.

Dodgers’ rookie bullpen highlight Ben Casparius is gunning for temporary spot in depleted rotation

Right-hander Ben Casparius took over for Glasnow on short notice Sunday, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he allowed just two base runners and struck out five. He was primarily a starter in the minor leagues, and he has thrown at least 40 pitches in four of his past five appearances with the Dodgers. Could he be a stopgap in the Dodgers' rotation while they wait for the likes of Clayton Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani to return to the mound?

“It’s a thought,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday (via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic). “He gave us four innings today. He’s unflappable. He flooded the strike zone. And he saved our tails today.”

Casparius has pitched to a 2.91 ERA over 21 2/3 innings this season, an impressive workload for a reliever considering it's not even May yet. He has indeed saved the Dodgers' tails with his long relief work out of the bullpen; now, it may be time for Los Angeles to slot him into the rotation.

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