Editorials

Dodgers Rumors: Scott Baker To Start, Sergio Santos May Join Roster

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE (April 24, 5:50 p.m. PT): Jorge De Leon started Friday night for Triple-A Oklahoma City, not Joe Wieland as initially scheduled. That leaves Wieland as an option to make a spot start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in San Diego this weekend.

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With Hyun-jin Ryu on the disabled list, the Los Angeles Dodgers have needed a fifth starter on two separate occasions through the first month of the regular season. In both instances they used a different pitcher called up from the Minor League ranks.



David Huff was first in line on April 14 and he was followed more recently by Mike Bolsinger. Their schedule set up so that Dodgers initially were believed to next need a fifth starter on Saturday. However, manager Don Mattingly opted to adjust the rotation prior to start of the series with the San Francisco Giants to provide more rest for his starting staff.

As such, the Dodgers now need a spot starter in their weekend series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park after Zack Greinke takes the ball Friday night. After an initial report from Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times indicated Joe Wieland would be next to get the call, that may not be the case.

According to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register, the start will instead go to Scott Baker, who isn’t on the 40-man roster, and Sergio Santos may also be added to the roster:

Baker signed a Minor-League deal with the Dodgers earlier in the month and he’s gone 1-1 with a 1.06 ERA in three starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 33-year-old right-hander has accumulated 16 strikeouts over 17 innings in those starts.

Santos’ contract includes a May 1 opt-out clause, which likely lends to him being placed on the Dodgers’ active roster. Santos was strong out of the gate in Spring Training before fading a bit and falling behind other right-handers.

Santos has eight strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA in six games (4.2 innings pitched) with the Oklahoma City Dodgers. It could be a busy weekend for the Dodgers, who have actively rotated players on and off the 25-man roster over the last 10 days.

The club is also expected to add recently acquired Xavier Cedeno to the bullpen at some point in the coming days. In theory, Cedeno could be added to the roster Friday, Baker on Sunday and Santos prior to Monday’s game.

As for the dissension over which pitcher the Dodgers will call on for a spot start, it could be settled as soon as 5:05 p.m. PT Friday as Wieland is scheduled to make a Triple-A start in Nashville. Of course the Dodgers could also elect recalling Carlos Frias to start Sunday as it’s the same day he would take the mound in the Minors.

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