Rotation questions linger as OD nears

As has been the case for most of the spring, the Dodgers’ decisions regarding their starting rotation remain a major focus. The importance of that decision will only intensify with 10 days remaining until Opening Day.

Unlike most teams, some of which are struggling to find a viable No. 5 starter at this point in Spring Training, the Dodgers’ starting rotation battle will be decided among seven legitimate big league options. Or eight, if you include Jimmy Nelson, though he will likely start the season in the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever.

That surplus of talent in the rotation should help the Dodgers cover innings as teams make the jump from an abbreviated 60-game season to a 162-game schedule in 2021. The Dodgers have said they aren’t in a hurry to name the starters behind Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer and Walker Buehler -- and that decision likely won’t come until the last minute -- but the competition between David Price, Julio Urías, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May is certainly heating up.

Here are some questions the Dodgers must answer or address within the next 10 days.

What happens with David Price?
Price has spent most of his career as a starter, but the veteran left-hander appears ready to move into a bullpen role, if that’s what’s needed.

“I want my teammates to know that I want us to be the best version of the Dodgers that we can be, and whatever that entails me doing, I’m OK with that,” he said in early March. “I’ve done this for a long time, and I know that we have a tremendous amount of talent in our young guys, and those guys deserve the opportunity to go out there and be starters. … If me going to the bullpen gives those guys more opportunities, I’m all for that.”

If Price were to be moved to the bullpen, it would certainly open the door of opportunity for Gonsolin, Urías and/or May to be a fixture in the rotation, as there would be two open spots in the rotation for the three young arms. For what it's worth, the Dodgers are building Price up as a starter and there’s still a chance that he winds up in the starting rotation come Opening Day. But the fact that Price is an option out of the bullpen is one of the most interesting developments of camp. And it could be a move that works for everybody involved.

How will the Dodgers decide?
The Dodgers don’t have an exact formula of how to decide who will be in the starting rotation. Spring performances will hold some weight, but not much as pitchers are often working through kinks in camp. Overall track record and development will play a bigger role in the decision.

How have the starters fared this spring?
All four pitchers in the competition have had solid springs, making the decision even more difficult.

Price has made three appearances and is scheduled to make at least one more appearance before the end of camp. He has a 2.70 ERA and has struck out four over 6 2/3 innings. After sitting out the 2020 season, Price said he feels “extremely healthy.”

Urías appears to be the favorite for one of the two open spots and the left-hander has been sharp most of the spring. He has made four starts, posting a 1.74 ERA and striking out nine over 10 1/3 innings. Outside of one outing against the Cubs, Urías has shown improvement -- albeit a small sample size -- in the first inning. Opposing hitters had a .341 average against Urías in the first inning last season.

Gonsolin and May are both coming off their best outings of the spring, according to manager Dave Roberts. May hit 100 mph on the radar gun and paired it with a sharp curveball in his last start against the Padres. He struck out seven in 3 2/3 innings. Gonsolin, on the other hand, struck out five over 4 1/3 on Sunday against the Giants.

Who are the favorites to win the jobs?
The Dodgers are playing it close to the chest, as expected. In the latest MLB.com roster prediction, Urías and Gonsolin start the season off in the rotation, with Price and May holding spots in the bullpen.