Dave Roberts Says Winner of Dodgers’ Fifth Starter Competition Has Been Decided

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Monday that he has decided the winner of the team’s competition for the No. 5 starter.

More news: Dodgers Cut 7 More Players From Spring Roster as Japan Trip Nears

Roberts said that player will stay in Arizona and throw rather than go to Tokyo as part of the travel roster. However, Roberts said he wants to tell the players before letting the media know.

The No. 5 starter spot was initially between three players — right-handed pitchers Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Bobby Miller.

However, Miller took a comebacker off the head in the team’s Cactus League debut, and just recently started throwing bullpens, essentially taking him out of the competition for now.

So, one of Gonsolin or May will earn the No. 5 starter spot, while the other will either open the season in the bullpen or potentially on a minor league rehab assignment.

More news: Dave Roberts Tells Non-Roster Invite He’s Traveling With Dodgers to Japan in Incredible Moment

Gonsolin has made two appearances this spring, pitching three scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

May has made three appearances this spring, allowing three earned runs across give innings for a 5.40 ERA. He has six strikeouts and four walks.

Gonsolin would appear to have a leg up in the race, however, Dodgers insider Jose Mota told Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain last week that he felt May had the “inside track” to the job.

“Tough call but I think overall if somebody has the edge in my opinion, I think it’s Dustin May,” Mota said to McKain on Dodgers Dougout Live. “I think on the mental side, on the physical side, [May] is beyond that and I would say he has an inside track with being a starter because Tony [Gonsolin], as good as he is, he was an All-Star went 16-1 just a couple of years ago, let’s not forget about Tony Gonsolin, Tony can help you more maybe in the middle of a game.”

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Have you joined our Discord Channel yet? Be a part of the ultimate Dodgers Nation community and get VIP Nation Access! Don’t miss out on real-time Dodgers talk, call-in access to Dodgers Dougout, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive interviews, giveaways, and more!