Dodgers’ starting rotation looks to be set

Though he didn’t make it completely officially, it looks as if we have a good understanding of what the Dodgers’ starting rotation will look like to begin the 2020 season. We pretty much already knew who the five would be, consisting of Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Alex Wood, Julio Urias and Ross Stripling.

Based on what Roberts said on Saturday, it looks as if the rotation will look like this:

1) Clayton Kershaw

2) Ross Stripling

3) Julio Urias

4) Alex Wood

5) Walker Buehler

The only one whose spot in the rotation has been made official is Kershaw’s, who was announced (for the second time this year) as the Opening Day starter. After that, it’s up to us to determine how this is going down.

Starting with Buehler, he’ll be throwing to Dodgers hitters on Wednesday. Roberts said that he expects him to go three innings. With him throwing on Wednesday, that all but likely takes him out of contention to start during the opening series against the Giants. When asked if we could see Buehler starting in Houston for the second series of the season, Roberts said it was certainly a possibility.

Stripling threw during a simulated game on Saturday, which would line him up to start on Friday for the second game of the season.

Urias is getting the start during the exhibition game on Monday, with Wood throwing during a simulated game on Monday. There’s a chance Wood could find himself ahead of Urias in the rotation, but I’m going to give the No. 3 spot to Urias as of right now.

Other news and notes

• Pedro Baez will be ready for Opening Day
• Tony Gonsolin was optioned to an alternate training site, but Roberts expects him to make an impact for the club in 2020
• Mitchell White will start exhibition game on Sunday
• In case you missed it, read about the wild offseason A.J. Pollock went through