Dodgers: Brusdar Graterol Gets the Start Tonight Against Houston

The Dodgers had already announced that they would go with a bullpen game for the series finale against the Astros. today. They held off on announcing who would get the ball to start the game until the very last minute. The team confirmed today hat a reliever will indeed kick things off at Chavez Ravine tonight. 

Brusdar Graterol, the rookie phenom, will take the ball for Dave Roberts to start the game tonight. It is Brusdar‘s first start since he played in the minor leagues in 2019. Graterol was brought up starting games and relieving games within the Twins’ organization. The Dodgers will go with him, likely for two innings at most. 

The Dodgers announced that right-handed reliever Brusdar Graterol will start tonight against the Astros and will be followed by several other members of the bullpen. Graterol has been effective this season, but has not drawn as many swings and misses as his stuff would project.

— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) September 13, 2020

Graterol has pitched beyond 1 inning just 4 times this year for the Dodgers. He has thrown a combined 16.2 innings and pitched to a 3.24 ERA. Graterol has also put up a very good 3.14 FIP, though his strikeout rate has not been what experts had hoped with the stuff he has. 

Graterol will be backed up by members of the bullpen tonight, with Alex Wood likely getting a bulk of innings as well. The Dodgers relievers have been worked hard as of late, so it will be interesting to see what kind of game they can put together. 

Dave Roberts clarified that Graterol was getting the start because of the Astros’ string of right-handed hitters at the top of their lineup. Houston will throw out 3 right-handed hitters in their first 4 batters tonight. 

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