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After starting his Triple-A season with a pair of strong starts, Mike Bolsinger will start the Dodgers' series finale against the Giants on Thursday afternoon at AT&T Park.
Bolsinger was 2-0 with 11 scoreless innings in two starts with Oklahoma City, allowing only three hits and three walks while striking out 17. Putting him even more in line to start on Thursday, that was his scheduled day to pitch, having last pitched on Friday for OKC.
Just passed Mike Bolsinger coming in to AT&T Park. #Dodgers Thursday starter mystery solved. #sorrybryanprice
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 22, 2015
Just spoke to Mike Bolsinger. He's here & is the #Dodgers pitcher mañana.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 22, 2015
Mike Bolsinger said watching how Kershaw,McCarthy,Anderson prep in bullpen before starts helped him & has been big reason for success
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 22, 2015
The Dodgers will need to make a roster move to add Bolsinger, and that's expected to be outfielder Chris Heisey going back down to Triple-A after one day up with the club, making a spot start in center field on Wednesday night.
The team didn't technically need to slot in a fifth starter until Saturday in San Diego, but adding Bolsinger in now pushes back Zack Greinke and Brandon McCarthy, giving them an extra day of rest.
What is more intriguing is that the Dodgers list Sunday's starter against the Padres as TBD instead of just Brett Anderson on four days rest. Bringing up another pitcher to start Sunday could give Anderson and Kershaw an extra day of rest before their next time through the rotation.
An off day on April 30 gives the Dodgers some additional flexibility in how they set their rotation going forward, plus the potential ability to carry an extra player after optioning the presumed spot starter.
Oklahoma City's scheduled starters this weekend are Joe Wieland on Friday, Scott Baker (not on 40-man roster) Saturday, and Carlos Frias on Sunday.
As Jon Weisman noted at Dodger Insider, "If you’re a minor-leaguer who came up to the Dodgers only to leave days later, you may be gone, but very much not forgotten."