The Dodgers had sufficient April days that 4 groups took them within the video games performed after Los Angeles (and the Padres) began the season with two video games in South Korea. However after the off days final Thursday and Monday, the Dodgers have a gauntlet of kinds that runs by means of Might.
Over the following 30 days, the Dodgers will play 28 video games, beginning with this nine-game highway journey by means of Washington DC, Toronto and Phoenix. The streak included 9 days in a row, then six days in a row, then ended the streak with video games in 13 straight days from Might 10-22.
The extra condensed schedule will pose a little bit of a problem, particularly with the way in which the Dodgers aggressively use pitchers. They’ve already used 21 pitchers within the first 24 video games of the season, a quantity surpassed solely by the Astros (23) and the Mets (22).
How the Dodgers handle Yoshinobu Yamamoto's schedule might be one thing to observe throughout this stretch, particularly contemplating the group has no plans to place him on “common” relaxation (4 days) anytime quickly. The fitting-hander is scheduled to begin Thursday towards the Nationals, which would be the second time he has sat on 5 days' relaxation.
With 9 days in a row on this highway journey, which means the Dodgers must hit somebody, seemingly throughout the Arizona sequence, to offer Yamamoto further relaxation.
If Walker Buehler is able to go after his rehab begin Wednesday in Albuquerque, he’ll sit on 5 days' relaxation subsequent Tuesday in Phoenix. Up to now, each rehab begin for Buehler has come on 5 days of relaxation. That can push Yamamoto to the sequence finale on 5 days' relaxation.
You additionally need to determine that the bullpen might be taxed throughout this stretch as effectively. Blake Treinen who started a minor league rehab task earlier this week may very well be closing in on a comeback. Among the many choice pitchers, Gus Varland can return on Tuesday if crucial, whereas JP Feyereisen (April 30), Ricky Vanasco (Might 1) and Eduardo Salazar (Might 2) must wait a bit earlier than being recalled. , except changing an injured one. participant
Catcher if you happen to can
The opposite mannequin of use to observe over the following 4 weeks is in catcher. Up to now, Will Smith's 19 begins are tied for second-most in MLB, one behind JT Realmuto of the Phillies. Smith's numbers are considerably buoyed by the Dodgers' begin in Seoul, however even in america Smith is beginning a excessive price of video games behind the plate.
Smith has 17 begins in 22 video games for the reason that house opener, a tempo of 125 begins behind the plate over 162 video games. In his three full seasons behind the plate (2021-23), Smith began 111, 106 and 106 video games at catcher. Over the previous two seasons, the Dodgers have been in a position to hold Smith's bat in keeping with a number of begins at designated hitter, however they’ve a brand new man right here beginning each sport.
Counting days off till Sunday, Smith has began behind the plate 17 instances in 25 days.
Over the following 25 days, beginning Tuesday, the Dodgers will play 23 video games, which isn't too totally different. However with an analogous workload, that is seemingly an additional begin for Austin Barnes, and that's earlier than contemplating the opposite 5 sport days that spherical out the 28-in-30 stretch.
Of the Dodgers' 9 streaks, six of them have ended with a day sport adopted by an evening sport, which is nearly at all times cut up between Smith and Barnes. As well as, you must calculate that the ultimate stretch of 13 days in a row will imply at the least one extra Barnes began blended. Final 12 months, Smith solely began 4 straight days at catcher as soon as, however counting DH begins he did so a number of instances.
Only a few workload issues to consider earlier than the Dodgers' busy video games.
