The Los Angeles Dodgers could use a dose of good news in the pitching department.
After seeing virtually every starter struggle with injury or command issues this season, the Dodgers are heading into the playoffs with serious question marks around their rotation. Tyler Glasnow and River Ryan have been ruled out for the year. Clayton Kershaw and Gavin Stone are currently on the injured list. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler are all managing injuries or command issues.
But suddenly there’s a chance that one veteran arm will make it back in time to take on some critical innings, as 2022 All-Star Tony Gonsolin continues to progress through rehab starts in Triple-A.
“The Dodgers are holding the door open to a potential postseason role for a player who is rehabbing from elbow surgery last September,” The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett reported as Gonsolin prepares for his third minor-league start later this week. “Gonsolin threw 50 pitches in two-and-two-thirds innings in his most recent rehab start and will try to get through four innings in his next start. He could return as a starter or reliever.”
Gonsolin pitched for a 2.14 ERA across 24 starts for the Dodgers in 2022, then saw a 4.98 ERA in 20 starts in a 2023 season that ended with surgery. He might not have been in the conversation for a return to the Dodgers this year if the pitching staff weren’t so depleted, but as it stands now, they could certainly use a boost.
“The landscape has changed since we talked about Tony,” manager Dave Roberts said, per Plunkett. “So with that, it’s still a longer shot, but I’m really impressed that Tony has taken this really seriously as a potential opportunity.”
While it’s possible that Gonsolin returns in a starter role, it seems more likely that he’d be deployed as a relief option. With Jack Flaherty and Yamamoto as the only pitchers really locked into a postseason start at this point, a first-round bullpen game seems probable. Gonsolin could play a “bulk” role in such a game, Roberts added.
But even as the Dodgers grow desperate for arms, Gonsolin’s return in any role is far from guaranteed at this point.
“Los Angeles is in need of rotation help, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Gonsolin will start once he completes his rehab program,” CBS Sports reported. “There’s also no guarantee the 30-year-old is included on the playoff roster.”
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