This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it often in your inbox.
LOS ANGELES — With the Dodgers beginning the season with two video games in Seoul, South Korea, towards the Padres, they’re set to reach at Camelback Ranch in two weeks to organize for the much-anticipated 2024 season.
Earlier than that occurs, nonetheless, we’ll proceed to take an in-depth, position-by-position have a look at the Dodgers and the way they’ll look getting into the season. We’ll wrap up our spring previews by looking on the bullpen.
The fellows on the prime: Caleb Ferguson, Brusdar Graterol, Joe Kelly, Evan PhillipsDespite some struggles in the course of the season, the bullpen was a energy for the Dodgers in 2023, significantly within the postseason, retaining Los Angeles in video games after the collapse of the beginning pitching.
Ferguson took a step in the proper route in 2023, however was inconsistent along with his manufacturing. He additionally struggled to come back by means of within the ninth inning when wanted. Graterol, however, appeared to thrive in each scenario final season, firmly establishing himself with one of many strongest showings by a bullpen arm within the Majors final season with a 1.20 ERA.
Kelly is again with the Dodgers after he was acquired from the White Sox on the Deadline. He signed a one-year deal this winter to remain in Los Angeles. The veteran right-hander has had success in a Dodgers uniform, however has struggled to remain wholesome. He’s a sluggish starter most years, so it’ll be fascinating to see how he comes into Spring Coaching. When wholesome, Kelly will probably be an enormous a part of the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Then there’s Phillips, who was within the “fireman” position for the Dodgers over the previous two seasons, however stepped in because the staff’s nearer later within the yr. His position transferring ahead stays to be seen, however there’s an argument to be made that he’s most precious pitching within the center innings, quite than being the designated nearer.
Final season, the Dodgers additionally benefited from having guys like Yency Almonte and Ryan Brasier within the center innings, however Almonte was traded to the Cubs in January and Brasier is a free agent. The Dodgers will proceed to watch the aid pitching market. In addition they appear to all the time discover good choices on Minor League offers with invitations to spring camp.
The subsequent batch of arms: Michael Grove, J.P. Feyereisen, Blake Treinen, Ricky Vanasco, Gus VarlandGrove was additionally featured on our beginning pitching preview, however there’s a sensible probability that the right-hander helps out on the large league stage as a reliever in 2024. Grove has been a starter in his profession, together with with the Dodgers, however he obtained some expertise popping out of the bullpen in ‘24. Evaluators have lengthy believed that Grove’s stuff would play up in aid quite than as a starter. He noticed a rise in velocity in aid final season.
Feyereisen and Treinen will probably be key items in 2024. Treinen was the Dodgers’ most essential reliever for a number of seasons, however accidents have saved him off the sphere a lot of the final two seasons. Treinen is coming off a big proper shoulder harm, so it’ll be fascinating to see how he bounces again from that, significantly his velocity. He ought to be wholesome going into spring, however the Dodgers will all the time be cautious.
The identical goes for Feyereisen, who was lights out with the Rays in 2022, not permitting an earned run over 24 1/3 innings. Feyereisen missed the ‘23 season, however is predicted to contribute this season. His progress may even be one thing to watch in the course of the spring.
