With Dodgers Optioning Justin Bruihl, Andre Jackson Will Likely Get Final Bullpen Spot
On Wednesday, the Dodgers announced a series of spring training roster cuts. The team sent down another five players, including LHP Justin Bruihl and INF Yonny Hernandez. While the Hernandez move finalized the positional roster — which you can read about here — the Bruihl move cleaned up the bullpen picture a little bit.
Bruihl was one of the options to fill one of the Dodgers' final spots in the bullpen. Without him in the picture, though, the options are pretty slim.
We know Evan Phillips, Yency Almonte, Brusdar Graterol, Alex Vesia and Caleb Ferguson are going to open the season in the bullpen. And Shelby Miller, on a major league contract, should be there too. After that, though, there are two open spots, and not a ton of great options.
Without Bruihl in the mix, and with Daniel Hudson and Jimmy Nelson confirmed to start the season on the injured list, Dave Roberts' options for the last two bullpen spots are Phil Bickford, Victor Gonzalez and Andre Jackson. Also, technically, he could elect to put one of Ryan Pepiot or Michael Grove in there — whoever doesn't win the No. 5 starter spot — but I don't see that happening.
With it being down to those players, I would be shocked if Jackson didn't get in over Gonzalez. Jackson has been very impressive thus far in spring, pitching 7.2 innings and allowed just one earned run, seven hits and one walk while striking out 10. His ERA is a minuscule 1.17, and he deserves a spot in the bullpen over the struggling Gonzalez.
Like I said before the Bruihl news came out, my opening day bullpen prediction is as follows: Phillips, Almonte, Graterol, Vesia, Ferguson, Miller, Bickford and Jackson.
Those are the best options right now, and it makes sense for Roberts to open the season with those eight in the pen.
