Brusdar Graterol to start for Dodgers in bullpen game

With injuries to Dustin May and Walker Buehler, the Dodgers’ rotation is a bit thin. As expected, today’s game against the Astros will be a bullpen game. Getting the honor to start the game for LA will be Brusdar Graterol.

When asked why he went with Graterol, Dave Roberts said that he likes the early matchup with a bunch of right-handed hitters in the lineup for Houston. “I like him getting there and getting a run of right handers to hopefully put up a zero,” Roberts said. “Then we’ll go forward and match up.”

Roberts said he’s a fan of bullpen games, because you’re able to play matchups throughout the game. Although the bullpen has thrown a lot of innings this season, Roberts isn’t concerned with their workload heading into October.

“Our bullpen has performed really well,” Roberts said. “You start to look at the usage in comparisons to past years. This is a game we got to use a bullpen, where guys are at with usage I feel very comfortable.”

The longest outing for Graterol this season has been 1 ²⁄₃ innings. He threw two innings once last season for Minnesota.

Dodgers news and notes

• Dustin May will throw a light bullpen and take defensive drills. He could make a start sometime this week if all goes right.
• Mitch White is throwing four simulated innings today and is in line to start Friday at Denver.