Former Cy Young Award winner David Price will start the season in the bullpen for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manager Dave Roberts announced his rotation Monday, with right-hander Dustin May beating out left-hander Price and right-hander Tony Gonsolin. The latter two are headed to the bullpen.
May joins Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler and Julio Urias in a formidable starting staff.
“It was easy, it was tough, just a lot of variables,” Roberts said of his choice for the No. 5 starting role. “A lot of good thoughts, but balancing a very talented pitching staff … this was sort of the first hurdle. I think we’re in a good spot.”
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May, 23, has a 2.63 ERA, 17 strikeouts and six walks in 13 2/3 innings this spring. Last year, he went 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 12 games (10 starts).
Price, 35, opted out of the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned this spring and has a 2.70 ERA with four strikeouts and two walks in 6 2/3 innings.
He won the American League Cy Young Award in 2012 after going 20-5 with a 2.56 ERA for the Tampa Bay Rays. A five-time All-Star, Price helped the Boston Red Sox win the 2018 championship, going 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA two World Series starts against the Dodgers. Boston dealt him to Los Angeles along with Mookie Betts in February 2020.
Gonsolin, 26, has a 3.21 ERA with 18 strikeouts and three walks in 14 Cactus League innings this month. He finished 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA in nine games (eight starts) in 2020.
Price, Gonsolin and right-hander Jimmy Nelson all could be used for multiple innings out of the bullpen, Roberts said.
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–Field Level Media