Dodgers News: Mattingly Says Bolsinger May Be Answer To Fill Rotation
The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t make the roster move official until Tuesday afternoon and Mike Bolsinger didn’t arrive until Monday night, but by process of elimination it was evident the right-hander was in line for another spot start in the Majors.
Bolsinger allowed one run on five hits in 5.2 innings against the San Francisco Giants back on April 23. He pitched well enough to earn a win, but walked away with a no-decision in a game the Dodgers lost. Bolsinger said after the outing he hoped to have proven his worth in the start; he was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City the following day.
Bolsinger put together another strong start for the Dodgers, allowing just one run on a towering solo shot hit by Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton in the first inning that cleared the Dodger Stadium pavilion in left field.
The Dodgers this time picked up their pitcher to the tune of 11 runs on 21 hits. Following the win manager Don Mattingly praised Bolsinger saying, “Mike, again he was good. The one thing he can really do is spin it. One of his better things that he does is spin it, he can change speeds with that breaking ball.”
Mattingly went on to add the expectations remain the same with him as other members of the pitching staff. “If we can get guys who can keep us in the game and give us a chance to win, that’s really what you ask out of every guy. It’s really no different with Mike than it would be with Clayton [Kershaw] or Zack [Greinke].”
With Carlos Frias making his third start of the season Wednesday and seemingly penciled in as a permanent replacement in the rotation, Bolsinger appears to have earned the same status. “I would think so,” Mattingly said when asked if Bolsinger earned another opportunity to start.
“We’re getting to that point where we still have a little bit of wiggle room, but we’re getting to that point where we need to settle in and get on track with our five guys.”
The Dodgers off days this month are May 18 and May 28 and they have just one in the month of June. Additionally, the Dodgers are scheduled to play a doubleheader June 2 against the Rockies in Colorado to makeup for the May 9 rainout.
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