Dodgers News: Mike Bolsinger To Mix Starting And Relieving
One of the biggest surprises for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season has been right-hander Mike Bolsinger.
The Dodgers acquired Bolsinger from the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations in the offseason, and he became a part of the starting rotation after Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy were lost for the season. He has been bumped from the rotation though, in favor of the two acquisitions from the trade deadline, Mat Latos and Alex Wood.
Bolsinger exited his first start back in Triple-A early after being hit with a comebacker, but he returned to toss 3.2 scoreless innings on Sunday; however, it was out of the bullpen. The Dodgers plan to use Bolsinger in different situations in preparation for anything.
Manager Don Mattingly talked about the transition they plan to use for the 27-year-old. “We just worked him out of the pen, but still keeping his innings up,” Mattingly said. “We wanted to be able to give him a break. Also, wanted him to come in in a warmup situation where he doesn’t get the full go out before the game and all that routine, but still keeping him stretched out where he’s the next starter.”
Bolsinger was 5-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 16 starts for the Dodgers, but got the short end of the stick when the three-team, 13-player deal went through. The right-hander’s biggest issue was getting deep into games, going six innings or more just six times.
While the Chicago-born pitcher pitched out of the bullpen, Mattingly said he won’t be doing that exclusively. “He’s going to pitch both ways,” the Dodger manager said. “I don’t know exactly how they are going to do it, but I know they’re going to keep him stretched out so if someone gets hurt, he’s the guy we’re talking about.”
With the way the bullpen has pitched lately, Bolsinger could find himself back with the Dodgers even if a starter isn’t hurt.
Talk about having a BP coming out of bull pen and pouring gas on the fire! Peralta should be cut. And Johnson has been terrible.
It pains me to see peralta not do well. After he was so nice to my daughter in DC a few weeks ago, he’s close to the top of my favorite player list. I’m really, really pulling for him. I hope since he’s a veteran, he can work through this and pitch like he did early this season.
Yes when they are great people it hurts. Looks like he is on the DL again. I think he has been hurt and trying to pitch through it. He has always been a very solid pitcher. I wish him well. Bringing up Garcia….
Garcia was impressive tonight. Hopefully he got his head straight. I read an article that said Peralta said he was pitching through the injury. Sure hope he comes back solid. I’d love nothing more than to see him do well for the rest of the season.