Tonight is the Most Important Start of the Season

Tonight’s game against the Giants could likely prove to be one of the most important… if not THE MOST IMPORTANT START of the season for a Dodger pitcher. Why? Simply because in his last start, Mitch White gave up ten Hits and six Earned Runs, raising his ERA from 3.38 to 4.20. Mitch has started twelve major league games in his short career, and eight of them have been this season. Mitch White is currently the Dodgers’ Number Five Starter, and for him to rebound and have a quality start would make it less likely that the Dodgers would need to make a move for a starter at the Trade Deadline.

Andrew Heaney will likely be back next week, so the Dodgers are not bereft of options, but the fact that Tony Gonsolin got lit up at the All-Star Game has to raise some eyebrows. Tony has pitched 236 innings in the major leagues, and 93.2 have been this season. He pitched 55 innings last year due to a sore shoulder, and the most innings he has ever pitched in college or in the minors was 128, back in 2018. I am not implying that he can’t do what Julio Urias did last season when Julio jumped from 55 innings in 2020 up to 185.2 innings in 2021, but it is a concern. I think at some point, Tony should have a 15-Day Stint on the IL for that nagging blister he might soon develop.

Let’s look at the Dodgers’ Starting Pitchers and see what we might expect from them.

Julio Urias – #1

To me, right here, right now, Julio Urias has earned the right to be the Dodgers’ Ace, but Clayton Kershaw will challenge him as to who would start a playoff series. Julio is 8-6 with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He leads the Dodgers with 96.2 innings and has been bringing those numbers down all season. When the season is over, he will be one of the guys you want to take the mound in a pressure-packed game.

Clayton Kershaw – #2

Maybe we should call them “Co-Aces,” but Clayton is pitching very well, having had a shot at two no-hitters this season. He has logged 71.2 innings and is 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. He is showing no signs of letting up at age 34. Since he has had some back and joint arthritis, I would imagine that he is now on some anti-inflammatory like Meloxicam, which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. I started on it about a month ago and have osteoarthritis in every joint of my body. It has been a “wonder drug.” Maybe he is on something better… I would think that the Dodgers Medical Staff is “on it!”

Tony Gonsolin – #3

Tony is 11-0 with a 2.02 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP. As I mentioned before, he has logged 93.2 innings, and this is unchartered territory for him. At the very least, when Andrew Heaney gets back, the Dodgers may skip a start for him, but he is also worthy of being called an “Ace.” It’s his title to lose… after all, he did make the All-Star Team.

Tyler Anderson – #4

I know some Dodger fans are worried about Tyler, who currently has a 10-1 record and a 2.96 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP, but I have seen nothing that leads me to believe this is “smoke and mirrors.” He leads the Dodgers in innings with 97.1, but in 2021 he pitched 167 innings, and in 2018, he pitched 176 innings. By helping Tyler with some of his pitches and sequencing, the Dodgers have helped him drop his ERA by 1bout a run and a half. I personally believe that is sustainable. He is a solid #4 starter.

Mitch White – #5

This brings us full circle to tonight’s starter. He has the stuff… now he has to have the attitude and desire to be “that guy.” His last start elevated his statistics in the ERA and WHIP departments. I’d like to see his ERA in the low 3.00s and his WHIP at 1.10 or below. That’s why tonight’s contest with the Giants is so critical. It should not be lost that he is going against Carlos Rodon whose All-Star Snub will likely drive him tonight!

Andrew Heaney – #6

Heaney could get activated as soon as tonight, or the Dodgers may elect to give him another start in the minors. Either way, it seems to me that they may want to limit his innings for a while (3 or 4) so that the inflammation in his shoulders does not re-cur. Tony Gonsolin experienced the same thing last year, and it took an off-season of intense shoulder exercises (which he continues to this day) to strengthen the shoulder.

Ryan Pepiot – #7

He has already shown that he can fill that last spot in the rotation.

Plan B – Bobby Miller & Gavin Stone

Both have the arm and stuff. Neither has the experience. That shouldn’t stop the Dodgers from trying one or both… if needed. There is no doubt in my mind that Miller and Stone would already be in the Show if they were on most other teams. The same is true with Miguel Vargas! Someone asked earlier in the week how Miguel Vargas compared to Yusniel Diaz, who was the centerpiece of the Manny Machado trade. Sometimes, you have your biggest learning moments when they “throw you to the wolves.” You may drown, or you may learn to swim.

Here’s one of my favorite sayings (make of it what you will):

I have had it happen… and I was taught how to fly – But that is a story for another day!

The Trade for Manny Machado

The Dodgers acquired Manny for  Yusniel Diaz, Rylan Bannon, Dean Kremer, Zach Pop, and Breyvic Valera. While I was never a great fan of Diaz (I saw him as a 4th or 5th outfielder), Baseball America gave him a 55 Overall Grade, while Vargas gets a 60 Overall Grade from BA. I feel that Vargas will hit for more power and has an overall higher baseball IQ than Diaz, as well as a higher “motor.” Diaz still has not seen the Show, while the other four players have … with varying degrees of success. I was not upset with that trade, but I would be upset if the Dodgers trade Vargas.

On Juan Soto

Dodgerpatch had the best idea… and one that I would endorse. He suggested Bobby Miller, Mike Busch, and a lower-tier prospect for Soto (I would do that deal) – I am not saying the Nats would, but if it was the best they could do). Then sign him to a 5-year/$225 Million Dollar Deal ($45 Million AAV). Imagine that lineup:

1. Betts RF
2. Soto LF
3. Turner SS
4. Freeman 1B
5. Smith C
6. Turner 3B
7. Muncy DH
8. Bellinger CF
9. Lux 2B

I do not blame Soto for not signing. Not the least of the reasons is that the Nats are for sale, and some clown may just want to milk the fans dry. Before I would sign with a team, I would like to know what that team and its ownership are about.

Tonight is Cody Bellinger Bobblehead Night