Dave Roberts stops teasing Dodgers fans with pitcher's potential late-season return

With Yoshinobu Yamamoto back in the mix for the Dodgers and looking very good through his first start since returning from the IL, the Dodgers' postseason rotation looks a little more settled. If Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw can't come back from their own injuries, it'll be Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, and Bobby Miller in October.

Only half of that rotation is making Dodgers fans feel like their team really has a shot at a ring. Buehler and Miller both pitched during LA's series against the Cubs this week, and just proved further that the Dodgers' offense is always going to have their work cut out for them when either is on the bump.

It's far from ideal, but if Glasnow and Kershaw can't come back during the regular season, Buehler and Miller may be safer options than two starters who haven't had runway to show that they're in postseason form.

Back in late August, the Dodgers teased the postseason return of an unexpected face: Tony Gonsolin, who hasn't thrown a pitch in the majors since mid-August of last year and underwent Tommy John later that month. Dave Roberts said Gonsolin wouldn't be a factor in the rotation, though Gonsolin insisted that he felt like he could return to starting duties.

He's currently rehabbing in Triple-A, but on the same day he started, Roberts made it sound like it's really just an opportunity to get him facing live hitters this year, saying, "it's 'unlikely' Gonsolin will contribute this season even as a reliever" (subscription required).

It looks like Tony Gonsolin won't be making an unexpected early return to the Dodgers after all

Unfortunately, not bringing Gonsolin back at all makes sense. If he'd be going to the bullpen instead of the rotation, that would necessitate messing with a bullpen chemistry that has only recently started to settle down. Although Michael Grove would be the easy axe, like Buehler and Miller vs. Glasnow and Kershaw, it's easier to take a chance on a known quantity than one who's coming back from a major surgery.

It's definitely not what Gonsolin, whose first start in Triple-A went well — two innings, two hits, no runs, three strikeouts — will want to hear, but it is the best decision for this team.

Maybe an extended stay in Triple-A would actually be the best thing for his chances of making it into next season's rotation, which is already looking mighty crowded. Assuming they re-sign Flaherty and Kershaw exercises his player option, it'll be Yamamoto, Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Flaherty, (fingers crossed) Gavin Stone, and Kershaw. Even if they don't re-sign Flaherty, that's still a crowded rotation.

So this is all for the best. It makes total sense that Gonsolin would be itching to come back, but it'll have to wait until next year.