LOS ANGELES — Pitching depth comes in all forms and the Dodgers will show it off at the outset with a 16-man pitching staff, thanks to 28-man rosters to open the season after a shortened spring training.
Options down the line include a prospect like right-hander Bobby Miller, who started Tuesday’s Freeway Series finale, as well as somebody who has a little more familiarity with a major league mound.
Dustin May’s progress from Tommy John surgery took another step forward on Tuesday with a 25-pitch bullpen session.
“It was just fastballs, maybe some changeups, but it was as good of a ’pen as I have seen him throw,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “I’m not talking about intensity. He was probably right around 90 mph throughout that ’pen, but just the repeated throw, it was really impressive.”
Even with the promising throwing session, May still is being targeted for a midseason return. He last took a major league mound nearly a year ago when he came out of a May 1 game at Milwaukee.
It was a harsh ending to a season that started with so much promise. May had a 2.53 ERA through his first four April starts and was coming off a 10-strikeout performance when the injury occurred.
WAIT MODE
Three days before the season opener at Colorado, Roberts still has not announced his starting rotation. All that is known is that right-hander Walker Buehler will take the mound on Opening Day on Friday against the Rockies and left-hander Andrew Heaney will pitch one of the two games at Minnesota next week.
Left-hander Julio Urias and right-hander Tony Gonsolin both pitched Monday against the Angels and either would be lined up on four days of rest to pitch at Colorado on Saturday. But perhaps the biggest announcement is where Clayton Kershaw will line up among the starters.
Kershaw, who signed a one-year deal at the end of the lockout, had a 3.09 ERA in 11-2/3 Cactus League innings. He struck out 13 over four outings with three walks and no home runs.
A CUP TO SAVOR
Power-hitting infielder Edwin Rios will always remember the cup of coffee he was drinking this week. The morning joe came with a call from Roberts to tell him he made the Opening Day roster.
It was the ultimate reward after Rios worked his way through rehab from a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder. Rios said he knew he was back when he started having success in live hitting sessions in late January in Orlando. Among the pitchers he faced were Antonio Senzatela (Rockies), Carlos Esteves (Rockies), Joe Jimenez (Tigers) and “a couple other big leaguers.”
“I just wanted to come in ready, be productive, show them I still got it,” Rios said. “I think I did just that. I’m just excited and happy for kind of a redemption year.”
SPEED TRAP
In his start on Monday against the Angels, Urias’ velocity was down into the low 90-mph range, with questions being asked about it postgame and even before Tuesday’s contest.
Urias said he is “physically and mentally” strong when asked about it. The subject was brought up to Roberts a day later.
“I’m not concerned about the (velocity),” Roberts said. “I think Julio will be fine with the velo. It was down. I don’t know the reason for it, but I think there will be a couple of upticks with his (first) start (of the regular season).”
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