Dodgers Spring Training: Gaudin Removed From Start After Feeling Tweak

With the Los Angeles Dodgers playing split-squad games on Saturday, Chad Gaudin started his first game of the spring for the Dodgers who were in Arizona to face the Colorado Rockies.
Gaudin opened the first inning by striking out Drew Stubbs, and he then retired Carlos Gonzalez and Nolan Arenado. Gaudin was perfect again in the second inning before running into some trouble in the third.
Nick Hundley led the inning off with a ground-rule double, which was followed by Trevor Story’s RBI triple that cut the Dodgers’ lead to 2-1. The two hits were the Rockies’ first of the game and they were met with a visit to the mound from Dodgers trainer Stan Conte and manager Don Mattingly.
After a short discussion with Gaudin, the right-hander was removed from the game due to an apparent injury. According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, the reasoning was a tweak Gaudin felt in his arm:
#Dodgers say Chad Gaudin is fine after what Gaudin called"a little tweak" in upper R arm.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) March 21, 2015
While Gaudin’s situation isn’t believed serious, he appeared to be the next Dodgers pitcher to suffer injury. Of varying degrees, the list of pitchers who have been recently injured includes, Erik Bedard, who left his start after one inning Friday because of a triceps issue and Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder inflammation).
Clayton Kershaw avoided serious injury on Friday despite being hit on the face by a comebacker that chipped his tooth and required dental work.
Given that Saturday marked Gaudin’s first start and just his fourth appearance overall, he wasn’t expected to pitch more than three innings. Signed to a Minor League deal with an invitation to big league camp, Gaudin faces an uphill battle in making the Opening Day roster.
With the fragile state of the Dodgers’ starting rotation, Gaudin’s experience as a starter figures to work in his favor should he not suffer any injury moving forward. Gaudin threw 34 pitches Saturday and the two runs scored against him were the first of the spring.
Paco Rodriguez Working On Mechanics During Spring Training
I have been saying all along that the new front office has put its trust in too many retreads……
On the other hand they brought in A Lot of retreads!!! It seems its the throw all the stuff against the wall and see what sticks method : ) But there isnt room on the roster for him anyway. They still have too many arms for the 11-12 slots they will carry don’t you think? The BP sill be used a lot to start as the starters stretch out to 6-7 innings. Some guys will shuttle back and forth from Okie City. Do not need the 5th starter much in the month of April so they can bring in Lee, Bedard, or someone else if they have to .