Dodgers may use sixth starter to rest rotation
Bolsinger, Lee, Wieland and Thomas among candidates when rosters expand
CINCINNATI -- Manager Don Mattingly said he's considering using a sixth starter at some point after rosters expand Tuesday to give the Dodgers' rotation an extra day of rest.
Among the candidates now with Triple-A Oklahoma City and already on the 40-man roster are Mike Bolsinger, Zach Lee, Joe Wieland and Ian Thomas.
"We could slip a starter in there, we've talked about that," Mattingly said on Thursday. "There's a possibility of that one time at some point."
Bolsinger is the most accomplished of that group, having been bumped from the rotation when Mat Latos and Alex Wood were acquired, despite a 5-3 record and a 2.86 ERA in 16 starts with the Dodgers before the trade.
Bolsinger is scheduled to start for Oklahoma City on Saturday, while Latos is scheduled to start the same day for the Dodgers. Latos is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in his three starts with the Dodgers.
After having three scheduled days off in an eight-day span through Monday, the Dodgers now are in a stretch of 16 consecutive games before the next day off Sept. 10. They are off again Sept. 17, then play 17 consecutive days until the end of the regular season Oct. 4.
Worth noting
The Dodgers released infielder Alberto Callaspo, who had been designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Chase Utley last week.
Callaspo came to the Dodgers with pitchers Thomas, Juan Jaime and Eric Stults from Atlanta on May 27 for third baseman Juan Uribe and reliever Chris Withrow. All three pitchers are in the Minor Leagues for the Dodgers.