ANAHEIM – Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Sunday expressed concerns that Major League Baseball’s new rules on checking pitchers for tacky substances could turn into a sticky situation.

While MLB umpires started checking pitchers for foreign substances last season, the rules have been altered for 2022 and appear open for interpretation. MLB has termed it a “less invasive” inspection.

“Speaking for the players, for myself, this is something that was instituted this year with the new form of rosin,” Roberts said. “It’s tough for players, coaches to go into a season when you don’t have complete clarity or consistency with a rule. When you have players being checked for how their hand feels, I just think it’s a little arbitrary from umpire to umpire.”

While umpires conducted glove and belt-buckle checks on pitchers last year, they are being instructed this year to use their thumb in order to inspect a pitcher’s throwing hand. Foreign substances, suspicious clumps and discoloration will be targeted.

“I do know that we are using the rosin that is being provided, and when you mix natural sweat and rosin, there becomes tack,” Roberts said. “That’s just fact.

“So then, how much is too much when you’re playing by the letter of the law? I don’t have the answer, but I think that is something that we get cleaned up sooner than later.”

Under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers have specifically targeted pitchers who throw with a high spin rate on the ball. A tacky grip also helps with spin rate.

Roberts was asked if the Dodgers’ contingent of high-spin rate pitchers could put his staff under suspicion more than others.

“Our front office does a nice job of identifying unique throws and spins,” Roberts said. “Those are facts. Outside of that, I don’t know.”

SWEET 16

Roberts confirmed Sunday the Dodgers will start the season with a healthy contingent of 16 pitchers. A short spring and an opening series at Colorado were factors in the decision, but the large staff could extend beyond the Colorado series.

Right-hander Walker Buehler, who started Sunday’s opener of the Freeway Series, will start Friday’s season opener at Denver. The team’s No. 2 starter has not been named but left-hander Julio Urias was scheduled to start Monday’s game against the Angels.

With that many pitchers, the team would be left with a four-man bench for the 28-man Opening Day roster. Those four bench players are expected to be Gavin Lux, Edwin Rios, Hanser Alberto and catcher Austin Barnes.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

While the Dodgers were playing in Freddie Freeman’s native Orange County on Sunday, the club’s high-profile free-agent addition was not with the team. Freeman was at home sick with what Roberts described as a “24-hour” bug.

Freeman, who attended nearby El Modena High School, grew up a fan of the Angels, but has played just three games at Angel Stadium, going 4-for-12 with a double in a 2011 series while a member of the Braves.

Roberts expects Freeman to return in advance of Monday’s Freeway Series game at Dodger Stadium.

PILLAR OF PATIENCE

Dodgers outfield hopeful Kevin Pillar had something of a cryptic Twitter post Sunday that suggested he did not make the Opening Day roster, but was willing to stick around to see if he might be needed at some point early in the season.

“Excited to start my journey back to the show,” Pillar wrote, in part, Sunday morning. “One day at a time.. see y’all when the time is right.”

The suggestion is that Pillar, a Chaminade Prep and Cal State Dominguez Hills alum, would be willing to accept an assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City, at least in the short term. He was batting just .176 with a .489 OPS and one home run this spring, heading into Sunday’s game.