Dodgers Team News

Dodgers News: Tony Gonsolin Expected to Miss ‘a Few Weeks’ to Start the Season

One week from today the Dodgers will be playing meaningful baseball for the first time since October 15, 2022. All that remains for LA is to stay healthy and to make the last few roster decisions for opening day. By our count, there are three true competitions still at play before March 30th.

Who will take the final position player spot?
Who will get the final spot in the bullpen?
And who will fill in for the injured Tony Gonsolin?



On Gonsolin, manager Dave Roberts had an update on the right-hander on Wednesday conceding that the team would likely be without the pitcher for “a few weeks” to start the season.

Among the candidates are rookies Michael Grove and Wednesday night’s losing pitcher Ryan Pepiot.

“We’re still trying to sift through that,” Roberts said. We haven’t made that decision. Whoever it’s gonna be you would expect to take down a few starts.”

Via Jack Harris, LA Times.

Both Pepiot and Grove have started 5 games this spring but Pepiot has tossed more innings (a team-high 13.2, tied with Noad Syndergaard). While Grove is more likely to find the strike zone (he’s walked only 1 batter this spring compared to 5 for Pepiot), Ryan is more likely to get an out via strikeout (he’s recorded a team-high 19 Ks this spring).

“They both have made exponential strides with their command,” added Roberts. “They have two different pitch mixes. The demeanor on the mound has been considerably better. So now, it’s not about what each guy can’t do, it’s about what we just feel we want at that particular moment.”

As we’ve been mentioning on our Blue Heaven Live Stream on YouTube for the last few weeks, the expectation was that if Gonsolin was going to miss more than a start or two, the job would likely go to Pepiot who is the more highly regarded of the two prospects. At one point Andre Jackson was in the running for that fifth starter spot, but he’s likely destined to secure that final spot in the bullpen, which is 100% the correct call.

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Clint Pasillas

Clint Pasillas has been writing, blogging, and podcasting about the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008. Under Clint's leadership as the Lead Editor, Dodgers Nation has grown into one of the most read baseball sites in the world with millions of unique visitors per month. Find him online on Twitter/X or his YouTube channel!

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