Dodgers Hint at Tuesday’s Starting Pitcher as Minor Leaguer Joins Team vs Padres

Mar 16, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Matt Sauer (64) throws a pitch against the Hanshin Tigers during the fifth inning at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer is with the team in San Diego ahead of their series against the Padres, per The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.

There is no starting pitcher scheduled for Tuesday's game and it appears likely that Sauer is with the team to start on the mound for the second game of the series at Petco Park.

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Matt Sauer is here in San Diego. Looked like he was just throwing in the outfield. Perhaps related: the Dodgers are TBD for a starter for tomorrow.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 9, 2025

Sauer was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in 2017 and spent quite some time in their farm system until making his way to the Kansas City Royals ahead of the 2024 season via the Rule 5 Draft.

Sauer got his first experience of MLB last season as a member of the Royals and made the Opening Day roster. With just a small sample size of 16.1 innings pitched, Sauer was designated for assignment and wouldn't appear in The Show again until the following season with the Dodgers.

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The Dodgers signed the right-hander to a minor league deal this offseason and he finally made his return to MLB in April.

The Santa Maria, CA native has a 3.05 ERA so far through seven appearances for the Dodgers. Across his 20.2 innings, he has 13 strikeouts to just three walks.

He has only made one start this year, but if he does indeed start on Tuesday, it will be a high-octane battle against a hungry Padres team.

The Dodgers start a three-game set in San Diego against the Friars on Monday, but will host them for a four-game set on next week. These two clashes will be around a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants in an ultra competitive week for L.A.

Sauer's most used pitch is his cutter, used 34 percent of the time, with a batting average of .167 against it on the year. The second-most used offering in his mix is his sinker, used 22.4 percent of the time, but averaging a velocity of 94.2 mph.

If Sauer can succeed in his next chapter as a Dodgers pitcher, perhaps he can extend his time in the big leagues and further his MLB experience.

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