Gonsolin 'a confident dude' with 7-0 start

CHICAGO -- Tony Gonsolin came into Spring Training with the goal of making the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation. After dealing with a lingering shoulder injury last season, Gonsolin wanted to prove that he was going to be a big part of the team’s plans.

The Dodgers, on the other hand, were optimistic that a healthy Gonsolin would help round out a rotation that came into the season with plenty of question marks. But they wouldn’t know until they saw Gonsolin prove it on the mound.

After two months, Gonsolin has not only proved he belongs in the rotation, but the right-hander has turned out to be the club’s most consistent starter. That remained the case on Wednesday night, as Gonsolin allowed one run over six innings in a 4-1 win over the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

“During Spring Training, you just never know, guys are building up, but I think right now, the blinders are on and he’s just really focused on his work. Everything is intentional now,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He doesn’t let the previous innings or [is] looking out for the next hitter, he’s really in the moment and he’s doing a fantastic job.”

In the fifth inning, Gonsolin allowed a homer to Jake Burger and got into some trouble with runners on the corners with just one out. In the past, Gonsolin might’ve let that frame get away from him or the Dodgers would’ve leaned on the bullpen to clean up the mess.

But so far this season, Gonsolin has gained the trust of Roberts and the Dodgers. Gonsolin rewarded that trust, striking out Leury García on a splitter and retiring Luis Robert on just two pitches.

“He was going to finish that inning. I was going to make sure he finished that inning, and to his credit, he finished that inning and came back and gave us another inning,” Roberts said. “You look at the efficiency now that he’s having to get through two and a half times, face 25 hitters or something like that, that’s just continued growth on Tony’s part.”

Attacking the strike zone has been Gonsolin’s biggest improvement this season. The stuff was never an issue as his slider and splitter have plenty of movement and are effective against both left-handed and right-handed hitters. But Gonsolin struggled to limit walks in 2021, walking at least two batters in 11 of his 15 appearances.

This season, Gonsolin has been much more intentional in trusting his stuff. Opposing hitters came into Wednesday’s start hitting just .070 against the slider and .125 against the splitter. Over his last eight starts, Gonsolin has walked two or more just twice.

“I only got to see him a little bit last year, but it seemed like he got the pitch count up pretty early last year,” shortstop Trea Turner said. “This year, he’s been so efficient. A lot of weak contact early which is great, strikeouts when he needs them. He makes pitches when he needs them. He’s kind of doing everything.”

Doing everything has been exactly what the Dodgers have needed. Walker Buehler hasn’t performed to the ace level the team expected. Clayton Kershaw and Andrew Heaney are each making their ways back from injuries. But through all that, Los Angeles has had Gonsolin to lean on.

And with the Dodgers looking to get back on track after losing three in a row, they turned to Gonsolin once again.

“I just think he’s confident in his stuff right now and it’s showing,” said center fielder Cody Bellinger, who hit one of the team's three homers against Chicago. “He’s just a confident dude.”