LOS ANGELES ― If Ryan Pepiot’s first major league season is in the books, the rookie right-hander can be proud of how it ended.
Pepiot was the winning pitcher in the Dodgers’ victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday. He threw 97 pitches over six innings, both season highs. Only a two-run home run by Lewin Diaz did any damage among the Marlins’ four hits.
Pepiot lowered his earned-run average to 4.02 in seven starts.
“Definitely just taking it day by day, and just kind of build off each inning, each pitch, each outing,” he said. “Just being able to be here and talk to guys, take everything in, has been very beneficial.”
The Dodgers must make a roster move to accommodate the anticipated return of right-handed reliever Brusdar Graterol. They added Dustin May to their rotation Saturday, giving them six starters at a time when only five are needed. Thursday’s off-day will allow Dave Roberts to give his starting pitchers an extra day’s rest.
That means Pepiot is likely headed back to Triple-A when Graterol is activated Monday.
Pitching on the occasion of his 25th birthday, Pepiot struggled out of the gate against the Marlins. He walked leadoff hitter Joey Wendle on four pitches. He got ahead of Jesus Aguilar 1-and-2, then fell behind 3-and-2 before hitting the veteran slugger with a 95-mph fastball. Only a perfect throw from Joey Gallo in left field to retire Wendle at home plate got Pepiot out of the inning without allowing a run.
Other than Diaz’s fourth-inning home run, Miami never got another runner past second base in six innings against Pepiot. After walking five and three batters in his last two starts, respectively, Pepiot issued only two walks Sunday.
“It helps not giving free passes and allowing guys on base, and then seeing the lineup less, is definitely beneficial,” he said.
Normally his best pitch, Pepiot threw only 12 changeups compared to 69 fastballs. But he induced 11 swings and misses on the pitch. The Marlins’ starting pitcher, All-Star Sandy Alcantara, got just two whiffs on his 100-mph fastball all afternoon.
As a fill-in for Clayton Kershaw in August, the Dodgers won two of the three games Pepiot started. Come October, Pepiot might be ticketed to the annual “stay hot” camp in Arizona. Kershaw is expected back sooner rather than later, and the Dodgers will not have room in their rotation for seven starters, let alone six.
“There will be a point in September where we as an organization have to make a decision on when we go to the 5-man (rotation),” Roberts said, “and put whoever it is in the ’pen, some repetitions as you look out, and get him ready for that role.”
KERSHAW UPDATE
Kershaw will not go on a minor league rehabilitation assignment, Roberts said, paving the way for the All-Star starter to rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation once active rosters expand from 26 to 28 on Sept. 1.
Roberts said Kershaw will throw a bullpen in the coming days, followed by a 3- or 4-inning simulated game against teammates at Dodger Stadium. If all goes well, that will be the extent of Kershaw’s rehab from his latest lower back injury.
The 34-year-old has not pitched since Aug. 4, when he left a game in San Francisco after four innings due to lower back pain. An MRI revealed no structural damage had taken place since his previous scan, which was conducted when Kershaw visited the injured list with a back injury in May.
At the time of his latest injury, Kershaw was expected to miss approximately one month.
ALSO
Blake Treinen was expected to make his latest rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday night. The right-hander is expected to rejoin the Dodgers’ bullpen Sept. 1.
UP NEXT
Milwaukee (LHP Eric Lauer,. 8-5, 3.58) at Dodgers (LHP Julio Urías, 13-6, 2.40), Monday, 7 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM