:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63283422/usa_today_12228630.0.jpg)
The long-awaited question of the last few weeks was finally answered Friday morning, as manager Dave Roberts announced who will be starting for the Dodgers on Opening Day.
Hyun-Jin Ryu will become the second Korean pitcher to start Opening Day for LA, 18 years after Chan Ho Park started the first game of the season for the Dodgers in 2001.
After the announcement of Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler being unavailable for the start, it was essentially down to either Ryu or Rich Hill. However, on Friday it was announced that Hill would be starting the season on the injured list with a left knee medial collateral strain. After getting an MRI, Hill is expected to miss a few weeks.
Rich Hill said he hurt his knee on his fourth-to-last pitch in his start last Sunday. He tested it in a bullpen and felt it again so he underwent an MRI that night. It showed a Grade 1 MCL strain.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) March 22, 2019
Ryu, 31, has made five starts so far this spring. He’s thrown 15 innings, allowing five runs and striking out 12. His WHIP is 0.93.
—————
With another starter going down, it looks as if there will be another open spot in the starting rotation. Roberts said that now Julio Urias might start as opposed to coming out of the bullpen. Earlier in the week Roberts said he sees Urias coming out of the bullpen in a long-relief type of role. With a spot currently open, it looks as if he’ll be starting until Hill comes back from the IL.
Andrew Friedman confirms Julio Urias will start the season in #Dodgers rotation but only until Rich Hill is ready. Hill injury is "a short-term thing," Friedman said
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 22, 2019
Though it’s due to change once the season gets rolling, we appear to have our unofficial 25-man roster set. With Brad Miller becoming a free-agent yesterday, we had an understanding of who the 12 hitters would be that the Dodgers would carry.
There was still uncertainty as to who the 13 pitchers would be though, with some players being wildcards to make the roster.
Caleb Ferguson, Yimi Garcia and Dylan Floro will be getting the final three bullpen spots.
Other news
- Clayton Kershaw will throw a bullpen session today
- Starting rotation to start season will be Ryu, Stripling, Maeda, Buehler
- Dustin May will start a game in freeway-series
- Joc Pederson exited last nights game with back spasms, he’ll be fine