Dodgers Could Get Surprising Boost to Postseason Rotation
The Los Angeles Dodgers could be getting a huge boost to their pitching staff just in time for October.
As of Sunday, the Dodgers only have seven games remaining for the 2024 regular sedans until the postseason begins. L.A. has been hit by numerous injuries, especially to their pitching rotation. It’s been a struggle for the Dodger arms, but Dodgers right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin could be back to pitch in the postseason. After the Dodgers dropped Saturday’s contest to the Colorado Rockies, manager Dave Roberts said Gonsolin has been ramping up and looking good in his rehab outings. “He’s been good, so we’ve just got to keep building him up,” Roberts said. “If this one goes well, then I think a conversation about him joining us at some point is more tangible.”
“The great thing about Tony is that he’s done both, and I think they both have their own value,” Roberts said. “No. 1 is to get him right, get him built up, and then we’ll kind of assess where our staff is at, in its totality.” Gonsolin’s latest rehab outing was encouraging. In his outing Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, he allowed only one walk over three innings while striking out six. It was Gonsolin’s third rehab start, and he delivered his best outing yet, racking up as many strikeouts as he had across his first two appearances. The 30-year-old is almost at the finish line of recovering from Tommy John surgery. Gonsolin tossed 45 pitches on Saturday.
The former 2022 MLB All-Star’s goal is to return to the team as they approach the final week of the season and rejoin the Dodgers in some capacity. It’s unlikely that Gonsolin will return to his traditional starting role, so an assignment to the bullpen could be more likely once he is activated. The Dodgers have had a ton of bad luck in the pitching department this season, so the potential return of Gonsolin could be a great sign of things to come for L.A. Add in the fact that the odds of superstar Shohei Ohtani pitching in October are closer to zero, making the Cat-Man’s return even more vital.
The former ninth-round draft pick last pitched in 2023, when he recorded an 8-5 record with a 4.98 ERA, 82 strikeouts, and a 1.22 WHIP in 20 stats and 103.0 innings. In his career, Gonsolin holds a 34-11 record with a 3.19 ERA.
As the Los Angeles Dodgers look to finalize their regular season, the National League West is still very much up for grabs. After losing on Saturday to the Colorado Rockies, the Dodgers’ lead in the division over the San Diego Padres is down to just three games.
The two teams are set to open a three-game series next week at Dodger Stadium, a pivotal matchup right before the season ends. Los Angeles has been staying afloat amid all of their injuries but the Padres have kept pace.
