River Ryan impresses with command in latest rotation audition

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- If the battle for the final spots in the Dodgers' rotation comes down to who can consistently find the strike zone, River Ryan just made a significant statement.

Tuesday’s 5-4 win over the Guardians offered a tale of two very different outings. All eyes were on Roki Sasaki, but the hard-throwing righty struggled to find a rhythm early. Sasaki labored through a 23-pitch first inning, exiting after giving up four runs on three walks and two hits, including a grand slam to Cleveland's Kyle Manzardo.

The raw stuff remained elite; Sasaki sat at a stable 98 mph and showcased a new cutter that generated four whiffs. However, the results were hampered by his inability to locate, as he managed just eight strikes in the opening frame.

Sasaki noted after his outing that his command issues stemmed from his upper body mechanics "leaning forward" during the first inning. He made a deliberate adjustment to stay more upright in the second, which led to six straight retired hitters.

"The results were really bad this time, but my feel and mechanics kind of matched, and also the result matched, finally," Sasaki said through an interpreter. "So I think it’s good."

Following Sasaki, Ryan provided a sharp contrast. Coming off an outing last week where he threw strikes less than 50 percent of the time, Ryan looked completely dialed in on Tuesday. He tossed two dominant innings of relief, striking out three and staying aggressive in the zone.

Despite the back-to-back performances, manager Dave Roberts noted that it is far too early to begin drawing conclusions about the roster.

“You want everyone to pitch well. You want everyone to stay healthy," Roberts said. "I think right now, where we're at, I don't think we need to really talk about a competition as far as the rotation. Once we get to the 21st of March, we'll have a better idea once we break camp. But I think right now, there's just too much that can happen."

Progress for trio of arms
While the game played out in Goodyear, several key members of the Dodgers' staff continued their recovery programs at the facility Tuesday morning:

• Evan Phillips took a significant step in his return from Tommy John surgery, throwing with noticeably more intensity to a standing catcher. Phillips, who underwent the procedure last June, is aiming for a midseason return.
• Brock Stewart is now throwing full bullpen sessions. Stewart continues to rehab from a right shoulder debridement procedure he underwent last September.
• Bobby Miller officially started throwing off the mound as he works back from right shoulder soreness. Miller, whom the Dodgers plan to utilize as a reliever this season, made roughly 10 throws to a standing catcher. This was his first time throwing off a mound this spring.

Around the clubhouse

• Kiké Hernández remains out of the lineup while recovering from offseason left elbow surgery. Though he won't play in the World Baseball Classic, Roberts confirmed Hernández will remain with the Dodgers for a few more days before officially departing to join Team Puerto Rico.
• The Dodgers are currently without outfielder Kyle Tucker. Roberts addressed Tucker’s absence, noting that he is away from the team as he and his wife are expecting a child. There’s no firm word yet on when he’ll return to the lineup, but for now, the All-Star is on dad duty.