LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers traded for Tarik Skubal to pair with Yoshinobu Yamamoto atop the depth chart. Blake Snell returned from three months on the injured list with 10 strikeouts in six strong innings on Tuesday.
Tyler Glasnow struck out eight for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday in his third rehab start, and is expected to start once more in the minors before returning to Los Angeles. Couple that with Shohei Ohtani likely available to pitch in October in some capacity, the Dodgers could have an even
stronger pitching foundation than last season, when they rode a stellar quartet to a title.
Gavin Stone is another Dodgers starting pitcher rehabbing in Triple-A, but is also nearly two years removed from his last major league start. Stone led the Dodgers with 25 starts and 140 1/3 innings pitched that season, but didn’t pitch past August and has been sidelined since following major shoulder surgery that October that repaired a capsule tear and partial labrum/rotator cuff damage.
Stone has allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings in his two starts so far for Oklahoma City, striking out eight of his 18 batters faced. That included five strikeouts in three innings on Thursday.
While Stone might be far down the depth chart this season, the Dodgers are keeping their options open with him, continuing a starter’s progression while on rehab.
“Gavin, given where we’re at, what he’s done, I think it’s more potentially out of the ’pen, a spot start if he builds up,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday. “Obviously between now until the end of September, roles can change, but for now it’s just let’s get him built up, let’s sustain health. That’s something we haven’t been able to do the last couple of years with Gavin.”
