Spot Starts and Bullpen Games

Blake Walston made a spot start on 4 June.Trailblazer idea: A spot start or a bullpen game gives the entire rotation an extra day of rest. Their performance is boosted.

This idea may be clear thinking or it may be muddled thinking. It is not owned by anyone, but the Dodgers are running with it.

“We’ve been doing it for quite some time. I think we’ve been a lot of trailblazers for some ideas that have come with some resistance.” — Dave Roberts, Manager of Dodgers

“Ultimately [with an extra day of rest between starts] we feel that their recovery is better and they perform better over the long haul.” — Dave Roberts, Manager of the Dodgers

“Over the last several years, as Roberts noted, the Dodgers…