Dodgers Trying To Find Balance With Innings & Health Of Pitching Staff

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been forced to tap into their pitching depth early this season due to several injuries, which has continued into the month of May.

With Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow both on the 15-day injured list and not expected to begin throwing until Friday, the Dodgers have had to rely on several bullpen games as of late while also adjusting the schedule for some of their starters.

Although not ideal, it is a situation that the Dodgers have become accustomed to in recent years. They also navigated through multiple pitching injuries last season en route to winning the World Series.

Manager Dave Roberts said the club is trying to balance innings and health to their overall pitching staff, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:

“It just seems like certain guys – and I could go back on each starter – but you’re still trying to manage their health and … [be] mindful of the innings that the bullpen is taking on and trying to stagger as much you can, and manage leverage and all that stuff,” he said.

“Absolutely not, we (don’t) want to lead the league in bullpen innings.”

Roberts previously expressed concerns about the Dodgers leading MLB in bullpen innings, but it is something the team will have to deal with in the short term.

However, the Dodgers should have some reinforcements on the way in the not-too-distant future. In addition to Snell and Glasnow being expected to start throwing programs, Clayton Kershaw could make his 2025 debut later this month.

Tony Gonsolin recently rejoined the Dodgers rotation, but Shohei Ohtani is still months away from doing the same.

Dodgers changing pitching schedules

The Dodgers are in the middle of playing 10 consecutive games without a break in the calendar, which will lead to Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki both pitching on one fewer day of rest against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Yamamoto has experience pitching on five days of rest, while it will mark a first for Sasaki.