Who’s on first? Pederson isn’t answer for now

The Joc Pederson first base experiment — a bumpy, six-week trial spawned by the Dodgers’ ability to treat the regular season as a playoff rehearsal because of their huge division lead — is over.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed its demise Thursday. He left open the possibility that Pederson could return to first base later in the season.

“We’ve given him an opportunity, and this is something that Joc was asking for,” Roberts said. “So for us to oblige and give him that runway ... to give him an opportunity to see how he looks.”

The look was hardly unblemished. Pederson made six errors in 149 innings, including two in his final two games at the position. He made his debut at first as a defensive substitute in the ninth inning June 20. He started there the next day and 18 more games. His most recent came Monday against the Colorado Rockies.

Pederson’s time at first base was trying. The 27-yearold said he had never played the position in a game at any level and had just pregame fielding sessions to prepare. Roberts, however, said Pederson “lobbied” for the opportunity and the Dodgers decided to give it a try to maximize their offensive potential.

“He’s worked his tail off to get better over there,” Roberts said. “So I really applaud him.”

Roberts spoke while Cody Bellinger took ground balls at first base during practice. Bellinger will shift from right field to play first base against right-handed starting pitchers. Roberts said he’ll play some right field against left-handers. Bellinger started in right field Thursday and hit a home run against San Diego Padres left-hander Joey Lucchesi.

Playing Bellinger at first base against right-handers allows the Dodgers to move Pederson back to left field and Alex Verdugo to right field with A.J. Pollock in center. Roberts indicated Max Muncy will get occasional starts at first base against left-handed pitching.

Roberts has said he avoided playing Bellinger at first base earlier because he feared Bellinger would reinjure his right shoulder.

May debut tonight

Back in late March, when Roberts conducted his spring training exit interview with Dustin May, the lanky red-maned right-handed pitching prospect, he challenged him. He told him to focus on pitching well and on continuing his rapid ascendance.

Four months later, the Dodgers, sooner than they envisioned, rewarded May, their top-ranked pitching prospect, for his swift progression this week when he was notified he was going to Los Angeles to make his major league debut Friday against the Padres.

“It’s definitely a huge surprise,” the 21-year-old May said Thursday. “And I’m definitely excited for the experience tomorrow.”

May had just been the subject of rampant trade rumors for the second straight summer, but the Dodgers kept the 6-foot-6 righthander — and the rest of their top prospects — with the intention of giving him an opportunity at the major league level.

On Friday, the chance will come as a starter in Ross Stripling’s spot in the rotation and he could get more starts, depending on Stripling’s recovery. But, ultimately, the Dodgers envision May — and fellow prospect Tony Gonsolin — as an option to bolster their bullpen in October after not acquiring a top-tier reliever at the trade deadline. May will get his chance after compiling a 2.30 ERA in five starts since joining triple-A Oklahoma City in late June.

“I think every opportunity is an audition for somebody who is a young player who hasn’t had an opportunity to prove himself at this level,” Roberts said. “He’s earned it. He’s earned this opportunity to pitch here.”

Gyorko rehab

Jedd Gyorko, acquired by the Dodgers on Wednesday, will begin a rehab assignment with double-A Tulsa on Saturday. Gyorko, 30, hasn’t played since the St. Louis Cardinals placed him on the 10-day injured list June 8. The Cardinals notified Gyorko he probably would get traded when they transferred him to the 60day injured list Tuesday. He is eligible to return next week but probably won’t join his new club immediately.

Gyorko explained he was close to a return when he suffered a calf injury earlier this summer. While he was out, he decided to have surgery on his right wrist to remove a bone spur. He said he is now healthy. The rehab assignment will allow him to rediscover his timing at the plate.