Dodgers News: Carlos Frias Gaining Confidence With Each Start

With Brandon McCarthy lost for the season due to Tommy John surgery and Hyun-Jin Ryu likely to miss the remainder of the year after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder, the Los Angeles Dodgers have relied on pitching depth to fill their starting rotation.

Carlos Frias appeared in two games as a reliever in April before making four starts in May. He pitched well enough to earn wins in each of his first two starts. His third resulted in a no-decision and he suffered a lost in his latest outing.

The loss came despite Frias holding the San Francisco Giants to one run over six innings and largely tied to Dodgers’ ongoing offensive struggles at AT&T Park. With a fourth solid start behind him, Frias believes he’s continued to improve, according to ESPN’s Mark Saxon:

I think I’m getting better each start,” Frias said. “I’m getting more confident on the mound. You try to be consistent and help the team win.”

On multiple occasions Frias has shown the ability to get out of jams and minimize the amount of runs allowed. He’s 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA in his six appearances. In Tuesday’s game, Frias faced runners on first and third with one out in the first inning.

The Giants failed to score that inning but were able to get a run on the board in the third behind a pair of two-out singles. While Frias currently has a spot in the rotation, it isn’t necessarily a certainty it’s where he will remain.

The Dodgers presumably will explore trade options to acquire a pitcher and Brandon Beachy is making progress in his recovery from a second Tommy John surgery. That being said, Frias’ experience as a reliever should bode well for his chances to still contribute in the event he’s bumped out of the rotation.

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