The New Rotation

With Dustin May, Trevor Bauer, and Clayton Kershaw all out of the picture, at least for the time being, the Dodger starting rotation after the All-Star Break looks like this:

1. Striker Buehler
2. Julio Urias
3. Tony Gonsolin
4. David Price
5. JoJo Gary

Yes, I said JoJo Gray. He will get another start… or maybe two at OKC, and hopefully, be built up to at least four innings by then (hey, it’s better than a bullpen game). The next option is Ryan Pepiot, but I hope that does not happen until August at the soonest. Don’t laugh, but that rotation has potential. Buehler is ready, and so is Julio. Tony is being built up and looked great in his last outing. David is rested and has done this before and just needs to be built up a little more. Gray has the stuff and was in the Dodgers’ plans this year – he just got derailed for a while. Price, Gonsolin, and Gray are fresh!

We know that Dustin May is not coming back this year. We don’t know if Kershaw and/or Bauer will be back. I have no opinion. None of us have a clue. Just let it play out. Maybe Bauer and Kershaw will be back or maybe it will be one and not the other. Many of you do not see how Bauer can be back, but I do. Sight vs. Vision. Bauer’s career may be over and the same is true with Clayton, but you never know…

I read at other blogs that it might be a month or more before Gray and Price can be built up as starters, like they can’t pitch until then? Gray went two innings in his last start. Maybe he can go three in his next one… then four… and five like the Catman just did. Having Price and Gray open and pitch 2 to 4 innings is better than starting Nate Jones or Jake Reed. Come on Man! You build them up as they pitch.

The Bullpen

The pen will be taxed, but pitchers are getting healthy and the Dodgers have this to pick from and rotate to-OKC-and_back:

• Scott Alexander
• Bazooka Graterol
• Joe Kelly
• Mitch White
• Garrett Cleavinger
• Alex Vesia
• Darien Nunez
• Blake Treinen
• Kenley Jansen
• Phil Bickford
• Victor Gonzalez
• Jimmy Nelson
• Corey Knebel (August)

I am not even counting Jake Reed, Edwin Uceta, Nate Robertson, and Bobby Wahl (and there are other possibilities in the minors). I think that is enough depth. The heck with the trade route. The Bullpen is coming together nicely and if it is not overworked will be a big asset to the team. I am not counting on Bauer or Kershaw… but that remains to be seen. The path to winning it all again starts with the hitters. They have to cut down on their strikeouts. In the words of Barry Bonds, “Only swing at strikes.” Of course, that is easier said than done, but Many Muncy does the best job.

Betts, Polllock and Bellinger need to all step up, but Cody has to take the biggest step. Overall, hitting is down across MLB. We will see if the crackdown on stick ’em works, but the offense should be able to carry this team the second half. Justin Turner and Chris Taylor are the only regulars who has had what we would call a good offensive year. Corey Seager will be back soon and CT3 should move to 2B with Gavin Lux taking over the Utility Role. This lineup is potent and long:

1. Betts RF
2. Seager SS
3. Turner 3B
4. Muncy 1B
5. Smith C
6. Bellinger CF
7. Pollock LF
8. Taylor 2B

Leave Cody at #6 and let him get it worked out. I believe he will. He barely has 100 AB’s and while his BA is horrid, his OB% is just 50 points behind Mookie and Will Smith. It’s about the same as a Lux and Pollock. I believe that lineup will produce. Now, if we can just trust the starting staff, which now includes Price and Gray. Let’s hope the Price is Right and that 50 Shades of Gray baffle MLB hitters. I am going to enjoy watch this.. win or lose.

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