Baker may be called upon for spot start vs. Mariners next week
Dodgers' newest pitcher getting look in Triple-A start Thursday
LOS ANGELES -- Scott Baker, signed by the Dodgers last week after his release by the Yankees, starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday in what apparently is also an audition to start for the Dodgers on Tuesday night vs. the Mariners at Dodger Stadium.
That's the first time the Dodgers will need to plug the hole left by Hyun-Jin Ryu's injury. Manager Don Mattingly said Baker is being stretched out, although he wasn't sure exactly how stretched out Baker is after pitching only 10 1/3 innings for the Yankees this spring.
Rules prevent the Dodgers from calling up any of their optioned 40-man roster players -- Joe Wieland, Mike Bolsinger or Zach Lee. Injuries have sidelined non-roster candidates Erik Bedard and Chad Gaudin.
"No matter who ends up starting, it'll be a load on the bullpen that day," Mattingly said.