3 things to watch as Cactus League begins for Dodgers
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 recurrently in your inbox.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — After months of ready and attempting to foretell the long run, the Dodgers will lastly play an actual — OK, sort of actual — baseball recreation on Saturday in opposition to the Brewers.
When it involves wins and losses, the following 5 weeks received’t matter to the Dodgers. Instead, with so many new faces and gamers getting used to new positions, all eyes will likely be on how this yr’s crew gels heading into Opening Day on March 30 in opposition to the D-backs.
Let’s check out three issues to look out for as Cactus League video games get underway.
How does the up-the-middle protection maintain up?
The Dodgers could have a brand new beginning shortstop, second baseman and heart fielder. That’s quite a lot of change for a crew that received 111 video games final season.
Gavin Lux will slide over from second base to deal with the on a regular basis obligations at brief, the place he performed all through the Minor Leagues. Lux sat behind Corey Seager and Trea Turner the previous few seasons, however he believes he’s prepared for the chance.
With Lux vacating second, the Dodgers are turning to rookie Miguel Vargas to deal with second base. Initially, most believed Vargas was going to play third base and Max Muncy was going to play second, however the Dodgers selected to go in the other way. Vargas has been sidelined with a hairline fracture on his proper pinky finger, however he’s anticipated to be able to play in video games by subsequent week.
Once Vargas takes the sector, it’ll be fascinating to see how he and Lux deal with the infield collectively. It’s vital to do not forget that with the brand new shift guidelines, extra agile defenders could have the higher hand.
Can Syndergaard flip again the clock?
Noah Syndergaard took much less cash to signal with the Dodgers due to Los Angeles’ skill to assist pitchers get again on observe. Syndergaard didn’t have a nasty season in 2022. He went 10-10 with a 3.94 ERA with the Angels and Phillies, however the right-hander wished extra. He wished to get again to being the phenom he was early in his profession with the Mets.
A key for Syndergaard will likely be to search out his fastball velocity. He averaged 94.1 mph with the four-seamer final season. According to supervisor Dave Roberts, Syndergaard has been round 94 mph in his first couple of bullpen periods. That would recommend a reasonably important uptick in velocity as soon as video games get began.
Velocity isn’t the whole lot, nevertheless. Syndergaard obtained hit arduous final season and struggled with command. How he seems this spring is among the most intriguing storylines of camp.
Which younger pitchers take the following step?
Barring damage, Julio Urías, Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Syndergaard will make up the Dodgers’ beginning rotation come Opening Day. But with Gonsolin, May and Kershaw all having prolonged damage histories, the Dodgers’ beginning pitching depth will probably come into play in some unspecified time in the future this season.
The subsequent wave of starters for the Dodgers contains Ryan Pepiot, Michael Grove and Andre Jackson. Pepiot has impressed early in camp, and Grove will likely be on the mound within the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener on Saturday.
Top prospects Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller may also be within the combine. Stone is the Dodgers’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year and is the extra polished of the 2 pitchers. Miller, however, hits triple digits with ease, and scouts fall in love together with his skill to spin the baseball.
“It’s going to be important,” Roberts stated of the Dodgers’ younger pitchers persevering with to develop. “They have to take the next step because we expect more from them this year than we did last year.”
