Dodgers News: Brusdar Graterol and Joe Kelly to Open Season on Injured List
T-minus four-ish days until opening day and the 26-man roster is coming into frame for the Dodgers. And in these waning days of spring training, usually that means a subtraction to the roster first. Moreover, on Saturday morning, Dave Roberts confirmed what already had been assumed…
The club will be without the services of pitchers Joe Kelly and Brusdar Graterol to open the season.
As expected, #Dodgers Joe Kelly and Brusdar Graterol will start the season on the injured list.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) March 27, 2021
In the case of Kelly, he’s behind schedule after experiencing soreness in his throwing arm almost immediately on day one at camp. For Brusdar, Roberts explained earlier this spring that the right-hander was unable to throw regularly in the offseason for a myriad of reasons.
As we head into final weekend of preseason, #Dodgers Dave Roberts said there is just one bench spot and one bullpen spot still to be determined. "The plan" is to open with 13 pitchers, 13 position players on the roster. (That one is especially for @kengurnick)
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 27, 2021
With Doc expecting the club to carry 13 pitchers and 13 position players for opening day, the guarantees are as follows.
Pitchers
- Clayton Kershaw
- Trevor Bauer
- Walker Buehler
- Julio Urias
- Tony Gonsolin
- David Price
- Jimmy Nelson
- Blake Treinen
- Corey Knebel
- Victor Gonzalez
- Kenley Jansen
Plus, in all likelihood, Dustin May and Scott Alexander.
Position Players
- Mookie Betts
- Corey Seager
- Justin Turner
- Max Muncy
- Will Smith
- Cody Bellinger
- AJ Pollock
- Gavin Lux
- Austin Barnes
- Chris Taylor
- Zach McKinstry
- Edwin Rios
- Matt Beaty
With the season ramping back up from 60 games to 162, it’s more important for LA to focus on the long-term health of players over the pageantry of making the opening day roster. Additionally, this affords the team the opportunity to see what a player like Jimmy Nelson can do while truly healthy and back at the big league level for the first time since 2017.
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As far as the bench spots go, Roberts and Dodgers will regret having a LH bench with exception of the catcher not starting and CT3 likely in the lineup a lot already. If I heard right Dodgers will face a LHP in at least 4 of the first 7 games and will be vulnerable in the later innings when teams throw LHP at them. And yes, it could cost them a few of those games. They have the resources to add another RHB because no way should Beaty AND McKinstry make this roster at the same time.