Dodgers save Trevor Bauer for Giants series

Trevor Bauer was originally listed as the starting pitcher in the Dodgers’ series finale on Thursday against the Diamondbacks, but the team game notes on Tuesday now lists that day as TBA. If the Dodgers make the switch, they would deploy a bullpen game on Thursday and instead start Bauer on Friday in San Francisco in the series opener against the Giants.

If the Dodgers decide on the original plan, the roles would be flipped, with Bauer on Thursday against Arizona, and a bullpen game Friday to start the first of two weekend series against the first-place Giants.

Manager Dave Roberts wouldn’t officially commit to the change on Tuesday, which is understandable since using a bullpen game Thursday likely depends on how relievers are used on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“That’s a good thought,” Roberts said of pitching Bauer on Friday. “It’s something we’re thinking through, absolutely.”

UPDATE: Roberts on Wednesday confirmed the switch, and Bauer will start Friday.

Pitching Bauer on Friday could potentially make him available for both Giants series, should the Dodgers also opt for a bullpen game in one of the two games in Houston on May 25-26. That would slot Bauer into the series opener at Dodger Stadium against the Giants on May 27, a second straight start on five days rest.

But trying to predict a rotation that far in advance is a sucker’s bet, so for now we’ll stick with what could potentially happen in the next few days.

Whether the Dodgers upcoming bullpen game is Thursday or Friday, keeping Edwin Uceta around after pitching three innings on Sunday gives them an arm for bulk innings on either day.

Links

• Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register looks at the Dodgers’ attempt to rebuild Yoshi Tsutsugo’s swing.
• Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic compares Tsutsugo’s swing with Tampa Bay to his stance in Los Angeles.
• Bradford Doolittle at ESPN digs into how home runs are not too far down across MLB with the deadened baseball, but offense is being limited by more strikeouts and a decrease in BABIP.
• Baseball Prospectus has an injured list tracker for all 30 MLB teams.