Dodgers News: Kershaw To Start Sunday, Fifth Starter May Not Be Needed
UPDATE (May 10, 11:10 a.m. PT): The Los Angeles Dodgers will give Carlos Frias an extra day of rest by pushing his start back to Wednesday and use a fifth starter (Minor-League call-up) on Tuesday, according to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick:
Dodgers will insert starter for Tuesday. Give Frias extra day rest.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 10, 2015
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Heading into the Los Angeles Dodgers’ weekend series with the Colorado Rockies manager Don Mattingly expressed concern over playing a game that possibly included rain delays as it could place a heavy workload on the Dodgers’ bullpen.
That wasn’t the case Friday as Brett Anderson managed to complete five innings in the downpour and earned a complete-game win in the rain-shortened series opener. First pitch Saturday was scheduled for 5:10 p.m. PT, but the game was cancelled two hours prior to the start time.
As such, Mattingly said the probable pitchers now get pushed back a day with Clayton Kershaw on track to start Sunday and Zack Greinke Monday, according to AM 570’s David Vassegh:
Kershaw will start tomorrow and Greinke on Monday. TBD on Tuesday. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) May 9, 2015
Having turned a proverbial corner in recent starts, Sunday will mark Kershaw’s fourth attempt this season at earning his 100th career win — assuming weather doesn’t again intervene. Rain is expected throughout Saturday evening in Colorado followed by overnight snow.
Should Sunday’s game also go unplayed, Kershaw’s and Greinke’s starts presumably would again be pushed back one more day. If that’s not the case, the Dodgers can go one of two ways Tuesday, which is the middle of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins.
Carlos Frias could start on normal rest or the club could once more call on a pitcher from Triple-A Oklahoma City. However, Scott Baker can presumably be ruled out as he’s not on the 40-man roster after recently being outrighted to the Minors. Joe Wieland was optioned back to Triple-A and hasn’t spent the necessary 10 days there and thus isn’t yet eligible to be recalled.
Zach Lee potentially making his Major-League debut won’t yet take place considering he last started May 8. That leaves Mike Bolsinger and David Huff as the likely Minor-League options. Boslinger made a spot start for the Dodgers back on April 23 when he threw 5.2 innings and allowed one run on five hits against the San Francisco Giants.
Huff got the first nod when the Dodgers needed a spot starter this season, going four innings and allowing four runs on seven hits to the Seattle Mariners. After being designated for assignment and clearing waivers, Huff was outrighted to Triple-A on April 18. He last pitched for the OKC Dodgers on April 30 when he allowed two runs in six innings.
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