Dodgers may turn to prospect Pepiot for start in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH >> The Dodgers' top pitching prospect might make his big-league debut this week.
Right-hander Ryan Pepiot joined the team in Pittsburgh on Monday and was placed on the taxi squad. The Dodgers will need a spot starter Wednesday but have not announced who that will be.
“It just leaves the option open,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of bringing Pepiot to Pittsburgh in advance of a potential start. “We're not going to commit to it. But certainly getting him here in town puts us in a position where we can do that if we choose to.”
Roberts has also said Andre Jackson and Robbie Erlin are options as well. But he took Erlin out of the running by pitching him for an inning on Monday.
“It certainly makes it more likely (that Pepiot will be the starter),” Roberts said after Monday's game.
Whoever starts Wednesday would also likely start one of the games in the Dodgers' doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks at home next week.
Pepiot has started the season 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA after six starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He has held Triple-A hitters to a .189 batting average with 36 strikeouts in 26⅓ innings.
“I think talent, I think performance has put him in this position,” Roberts said. “Ultimately, if we decide to pull the trigger, it'll be an exciting day for all of us.”
Pepiot would have to be moved to the 40-man roster before making his debut. With reliever Blake Treinen (shoulder inflammation) not expected back until after the All-Star break and lefty Victor Gonzalez about to undergo elbow surgery, the Dodgers could move either to the 60-day injured list to clear a 40-man spot.
Taylor time
Chris Taylor has slipped into a 6-for-34 slump with 20 strikeouts in that time, including 12 strikeouts in his past 17 at-bats. Roberts said he plans to give Taylor “a day to watch a baseball game” on Tuesday when Roberts plans to load up on left-handers in the lineup against Pirates right-hander Bryse Wilson.
Taylor's downtime started early. He came out of the game in the fifth inning after fouling a ball off the inside of his left knee during his atbat in the top of the inning. Xrays showed no fracture and Taylor called the bone bruise a “day-to-day” situation.
Roberts looks at Taylor's slump the same way.
“It's one of these funks that he's in this last week. He'll work through it,” Roberts said before the game.
“When he goes bad it doesn't look good because there's a lot of swing-andmiss in there. But he always finds a way to get out of it.”
The swing changes that turned Taylor from a fringe big-leaguer into an All-Star have resulted in a highmaintenance swing, Roberts acknowledged. Taylor has struck out at least 115 times in each of the past four full seasons, leading the National League with 178 in 2018.
“It's more of a challenge,” he said. “But fortunately he's very in tune with his body. He's very in tune with his mechanics. He has a trust of the hitting guys. It is something you've got to stay on top of because one day it could be there then two days go by and you're completely lost and you're trying to figure out that feel.
“But he always finds a way to get to it.”
Also
After traveling to Chicago with the Dodgers for their weekend series at Wrigley Field, left-hander David Price went back to Arizona this week. He is expected to throw a bullpen session at Camelback Ranch today, and then throw to hitters Friday. He could rejoin the Dodgers for their series against the Diamondbacks. Price remains on the COVID injured list.