SAN DIEGO — Given the way in which that the Dodgers dealt with Tuesday night time’s blowout loss, it was fairly clear that they felt their finest shot of taking two of three from the Padres would come on Wednesday afternoon.
It was evident when the group rode a struggling Matt Sauer — who gave up 9 runs in 4 2/3 innings — for a career-high 111 pitches, then referred to as utility man Kiké Hernández to the mound with two outs within the sixth to complete the sport somewhat than burn one other arm.
All that steered that the Dodgers had been resigned to their destiny in what ended up as an 11-1 loss. However as ugly because it regarded on the time, it allowed the Dodgers to have their full slate of high-leverage arms obtainable for the finale. That included rookie right-hander Ben Casparius, who ended up because the shock beginning pitcher in Wednesday’s 5-2 victory.
Lefty Justin Wrobleski was initially scheduled to begin towards the Padres, however the Dodgers figured that going with Casparius put them in a greater place to take the collection. And the swap paid off: Casparius gave the Dodgers 4 innings of one-run ball on 54 pitches. (He bought an enormous help from Andy Pages, who lower down a runner on the plate with a 99 mph throw from middle subject within the second.)
As soon as Casparius was finished for the day, Michael Conforto hit a game-tying solo shot within the fifth earlier than Teoscar Hernández put the Dodgers in entrance with a three-run blast within the sixth.
With Tony Gonsolin changing into the fourth member of the Dodgers’ rotation to maintain an in-season damage — becoming a member of Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki — there’s an opportunity that Casparius may get an extended look within the rotation.
Roberts has referred to Casparius as a “hybrid” pitcher this season, his first understanding of the ‘pen. He is been the Dodgers’ main lengthy reliever, in addition to a high right-handed leverage choice. However the return of Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech from the IL over the weekend means the group is not essentially as reliant on having Casparius obtainable within the late innings.
Casparius has confirmed adaptable in each state of affairs the Dodgers have put him in. Now, he could be most helpful to the group by returning to his roots as a starter.
