GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- A pair of Dodgers vying to be next in line on the starting rotation depth chart made their spring training debuts on Saturday, with Mike Bolsinger and Chad Gaudin each pitching two innings in the Dodgers' 5-5 tie with the Indians at Goodyear Ballpark.
Bolsinger started and pitched two innings, allowing a run on two hits, with David Murphy knocking home the run with a two-out single through the right side in the second inning. He was excited to finally pitch in a game.
"To me you can only get so much out of a bullpen," Bolsinger said. "I was excited to get out there and actually pitch with a defense behind me."
Bolsinger, acquired from the Diamondbacks for cash considerations on November 22, didn't strikeout or walk anybody on Saturday.
He's basically a guy who's going to literally throw it over the plate and make you hit it," said catcher Yasmani Grandal. "But he's got so much movement that not too many guys can square him up.
"I'm a guy who relies on movement. I have to get better with location," Bolsinger said. "It's something I'll work on in the bullpen."
Gaudin, signed to a minor league deal on Feb. 25, didn't pitch all of last year after surgery to relieve nerve pressure caused by Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Saturday marked his first game action since Aug. 16, 2013.
He induced three groundouts in his first inning of work, then though he followed in his next inning by allowing a base hit Gaudin also struck out three to complete his two scoreless frames.
"Gaudin lives down in the zone, which is one of the things I like about him," Grandal said. "He has a great change up, a nice slider."
Bolsinger is on the 40-man roster and has two option years remaining. Gaudin is on a minor league deal with no opt-out clause. Both are battling to be the first person called up should the Dodgers need another starter beyond their planned five-man rotation, along with Joe Wieland (40-man), Erik Bedard (a non-roster invitee whose first opt-out date isn't until May 1) and Carlos Frias (40-man), to name a few.
"Both of those guys, you could tell they are experienced guys," Mattingly said of Bolsinger and Gaudin. "They have weapons for both sides of the plate. Both of those guys have pitched in the big leagues, and you can tell.
Up next
The Dodgers return home to Camelback Ranch on Sunday to host the Milwaukee Brewers, with Brandon McCarthy making his 2015 Cactus League debut. Mike Fiers will start for Milwaukee. A reminder, with daylight savings time kicking in tomorrow, Sunday's game is a 1:05 p.m. PT start.