Dodgers give Wood extra rest before next start
Lefty pushed back 2 days to Sunday; bullpen day slated for Friday
LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced changes to the pitching schedule this weekend in Colorado. The main change is that he's pushing Alex Wood's scheduled Friday start back two days, to Sunday. Walker Buehler will take the hill on Saturday with Friday being a bullpen day.
The change was more for preventive health than any lingering issue, Roberts said, although Wood has dealt with cramps in his left leg recently.
"He threw a [bullpen session] today and felt good," Roberts said. "This will give him a couple of extra days, to make sure his leg is in good shape, especially going to altitude.
"Of the last two out of three games, coming out with the leg, he felt it a little," Roberts said, adding that it was "cramping, hamstring, maybe the calf the first time, obviously muscular."
Roberts is being extra cautious, with so many Dodger pitchers either on the DL or just coming back.
"When you are going to throw 90-100 pitches and one can be detrimental, you want to put him in the best position to stay healthy," Roberts said. "That's what we're trying to do."
As for Friday's game, Roberts said he has no specific plan and will wait to see what the bullpen has to do Thursday night.
"Assuming we get out of it today," he said, "we'll rely on a few -- three, four or five -- different arms."
Which arms was also up in the air, with Dennis Santana definitely in the plan.
"He's built up, he's been a starter," Roberts said.
When asked if he thought about taking a page from the Tampa Bay Rays and start with the closers before going to the long relievers, Roberts said, "That's a possibility, too, depends on what [Rockies manager] Bud Black is going to do."