On Friday, the Dodgers lastly determined to call rookie Ryan Pepiot because the quantity 5 starter on the pitching workers, no less than whereas Tony Gonsolin is out. It was a transfer that turned more and more apparent every day Gonsolin remained on the sideline.
Despite the fact that it was fairly apparent that the transfer was coming, supervisor Dave Roberts shared that the competitors was slightly nearer with fellow rookie Michael Grove. Right here’s what he advised reporters.
“It was a troublesome one. They each made large strides and each earned that chance,” Roberts mentioned. “I suppose to place it extra merely we simply felt that Ryan outperformed Michael this spring. I don’t at all times need to take a look at it as a contest and over-evaluate spring. We simply felt it was the appropriate determination at this cut-off date however we count on Michael to pitch appreciable innings for us this yr as properly.”
By way of Invoice Plunkett, OC Register
Pepiot posted the higher ERA and strikeout totals between the 2, albeit in fewer innings. Grove succeeded extra in holding runners off the basepaths (1.08 WHIP vs 1.39 WHIP) however allowed twice as many runs as Pepiot in simply 3 extra innings. Stats traces will make that make extra sense.
Grove: 0-1, 5.40 ERA, 6 G, 16.2 IP, 15 H, 10 ER, 3 BB, 17 Okay, 1.08 WHIP
Pepiot: 1-1, 3.29 ERA, 5 G, 13.2 IP, 14 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 19 Okay, 1.39 WHIP
So sure, Pepiot outperformed Grove. Nevertheless it wasn’t all concerning the numbers in Roberts’ eyes. The 25-year-old Pepiot got here into spring coaching on a mission to show himself and show that may get huge league hitters out constantly. At the least extra constant than he displayed in his temporary time with the Dodgers final season.
“He’s made big strides,” Roberts mentioned about Pepiot. “With the mechanics, I assume the supply is much more constant so the throws are far more constant. There simply appears to be extra readability. Issues have slowed down for him. With all that, we simply really feel his stuff performs on the major-league degree.”
Pepiot wasn’t precisely unhealthy in his debut season in 2022 (3-0, 3.47 ERA over 9 video games) however he struggled mightily with command, strolling 27 batters in 36.1 innings. He advised DodgersNation.com within the offseason that was his primary space of focus coming into the spring and it seems like his efforts proved to be a hit.
If every part traces up in keeping with plan, the right-hander will make his 2023 debut in opposition to the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on Monday, April 3.
