So, who pitches for the Dodgers tomorrow? Nobody knows. And that’s exactly what makes it fun.
It’s like a game of baseball roulette. Dave Roberts, the manager, keeps his cards close to his vest. We get to play detective.
The "Bullpen Game" Shuffle
Your first guess is probably a bullpen game. That’s when everyone throws an inning or two.
Think of it as a relay race with fastballs. One guy gets a strikeout. The next guy gets a groundout. It’s chaotic and beautiful.
Who leads this parade? Probably a long reliever like Ryan Yarbrough. He eats innings like candy. Or maybe it’s Caleb Ferguson, a lefty with a sneaky curveball.
Did Someone Say "Opener"?
This is where it gets extra silly. The Dodgers love an "opener."
That’s a pitcher who starts the game but only faces three batters. He’s a decoy! He’s like the first player in a video game level. He takes the hits, then tags out.
Who’s the opener? Could be Evan Phillips. He’s a human strike-throwing machine. Or maybe it’s Alex Vesia—the guy who screams after big outs. Pure energy.
The "Injury Comeback" Special
Here’s a spicy possibility: a rehab assignment. The Dodgers have a whole hospital ward of pitchers.
Dustin May throws fire spaghetti. His hair is as wild as his curveball. He might pitch two innings just to stretch his arm. That would be a treat.
Or Tony Gonsolin. He’s a cat person who owns a cat café. Yes, really. If he pitches, we get to watch a man who loves kitten videos throw 93-mph split-fingers. The weirdness is pure gold.
What About the "Young Gun"?
The Dodgers farm system is insane. They grow pitchers like weird plants in a greenhouse.
Could it be Gavin Stone? He’s got a changeup that confuses hitters so much they look sad. He’s young and fearless. He might just get the call.
Or Bobby Miller if he’s healthy. He throws 100 mph and looks like a video game character. He’s pixel-perfect. Seeing him pitch is like watching a cheat code.
The "Let’s Get Weird" Contingency
Who says a starting pitcher has to start the game? The Dodgers once had a position player pitch. So why not reverse it?
What if Mookie Betts tossed the first inning? Yes, he’s an MVP batter. But he has a decent arm. The baseball gods would explode. Fans would lose their minds.
Okay, that’s a joke. Probably. But with this team, you never know.
Shohei Ohtani: 'There's A Nervousness' On Start Days But Misses Pitching
Why Do We Care So Much?
Because it’s a ridiculous puzzle. Every game feels like a new science experiment.
You don’t just get "a pitcher." You get a committee. You get a game plan scribbled on a napkin. You get Dave Roberts looking at his phone, shrugging, and pointing at a guy in the bullpen.
The unpredictability is juicy. It makes the game feel alive and chaotic. Like a sports version of improv comedy. Yes, and... more relievers!
A Little History Lesson (Fun Edition)
Remember Clayton Kershaw? The legend? He used to start every five days, clockwork. That was boringly beautiful.
Now, the Dodgers have a spinning wheel of arms. It’s a scorecard full of question marks. And every question mark throws a different pitch.
Last week, they used seven pitchers in one game. Seven! That’s almost a full soccer team. The announcers ran out of things to say. They just giggled.
Reading the Tea Leaves
So how do we guess? Look at the opponent. Facing a lefty-heavy lineup? Expect a left-handed opener.
Check the travel schedule. Did they just fly in from New York? They might toss a rookie who is fresh and wide-eyed.
Check Twitter from the team’s beat writer. If they post a photo of a coffee cup in the bullpen, that means something. Usually, it means nothing. But we pretend it means everything.
The Final Answer (Sort Of)
Here’s the truth: I have no idea. And that’s the best part.
Tomorrow morning, the Dodgers will tweet a name. It’ll be a guy you vaguely remember from a trade. Or a guy you met at a taco stand last year. And you’ll say, "Oh yeah, him!"
And then he’ll throw a perfect first inning. Or he’ll give up three runs. Either way, you’ll have a story to tell. Baseball is fun when it’s messy.
One More Quirk
If the game goes into extra innings, the catcher might pitch. Seriously, it’s a rule? No, but they do it anyway.
Austin Barnes has a hidden arm. He once threw a scoreless inning in a blowout. The crowd roared like he hit a home run. That’s the Dodger way. Embrace the absurd.
So grab your nachos. Check your phone. Watch the pregame show. The answer will appear, and it’ll be delightfully weird. That’s why we love this team.
