Dodgers recent bullpen usage heading into Wednesday vs. Cubs

Wednesday was going to be a planned bullpen game for the Dodgers, to finish off their road trip heading into Thursday’s off day. It still might be a bullpen game, but Tuesday also turned out to be a bullpen game as well.

Six Dodgers relievers were used against the Cubs in the series opener, which is not the ideal lead-in to a game in which several arms will be needed.

“There might be a pending move, for some length potentially. I’m going to talk with the pitching guys here shortly and figure out where we’re at,” Dave Roberts told reporters at Wrigley Field Tuesday night, as shown on SportsNet LA. “Obviously with the starter going shorter, and using the arms that we used, the back-to-backs, the length, the up-downs potentially that we have and don’t have available, there’s a conversation to be had. We’ll figure it out.”

First, let’s look at at recent usage to see who might be available among the nine currently active relievers. That includes Noah Davis, who was called up Friday after starter Bobby Miller was optioned. Davis threw one pitch on Tuesday, which was his first outing since throwing 39 pitches in two innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City on April 12.

Given the nine pitchers currently active, one would imagine that Wednesday will feature heavy doses of Ben Casparius, Jack Dreyer, and Evan Phillips, who did not pitch on Tuesday, and possibly Davis since he only threw one pitch.

If the Dodgers call up another pitcher for length, Matt Sauer might be an option. Tuesday marked the 15th day since he was optioned to Triple-A, meaning he can be called up Wednesday without needing to replace an injured player. The same cannot be said for Justin Wrobleski, Landon Knack, or Miller, and they all made starts for Oklahoma City in the last three days and wouldn’t be available anyway. Nick Frasso is available to be called up but isn’t rested, having thrown 55 pitches in three innings on Sunday.

Sauer last pitched on Friday in Triple-A, throwing 68 pitches in 3⅔ innings. He’s listed to piggyback on Wednesday for Oklahoma City, which leads us to another potential option.

Tony Gonsolin was expected to make his fourth and potentially final rehab start in Triple-A on Wednesday, having already pitched four innings in his start last Tuesday for Oklahoma City. It could basically be a question of even a somewhat limited Gonsolin might be the best option to give the Dodgers length on Wednesday, even if he’s limited to three or four innings, given the other options.

Whether the Dodgers call up another arm on Wednesday or not, expect more maneuvering in the next week. They’ll be in the same situation next week, likely needing starting pitchers on both Tuesday and Wednesday against the Marlins at home, finishing off a stretch of six game days in a row.

Gonsolin at least tentatively was earmarked for one of those games next week, and given the timing either Knack or Wrobleski would be able to be recalled from Triple-A for a spot start as the club buys time until Blake Snell returns.

But that’s stuff to think about next week. Let’s get through this Wednesday first.