Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has already named four of the team's five starters for the Opening Day roster, but the club's decimated rotation still needs one more arm. With the No. 5 spot still up for grabs, the battle will apparently be between three pitchers.
On Friday, the three options were Zach Lee, Brandon Beachy and Carlos Frias. It'll likely stay that way, but it depends on Beachy's status because the right-hander is experiencing soreness in his twice surgically repaired elbow following his poor start Friday against the Astros. It was the first time in three outings he allowed a run, but he was charged for six earned over two innings of work.
If Beachy is injured, Roberts indicated that Lee and Frias would be in the mix for the final rotation spot.
He did not mention Joe Blanton as a possibility, as it's expected the right-hander remains in the bullpen as he's allowed just two earned runs over 9 2/3 innings of work in five relief appearances this spring.
Mike Bolsinger was a potential option as well, but he's nursing an oblique strain right now and it's unknown how much longer he'll be sidelined for. The right-hander made three appearance this spring (one start) and allowed just two earned runs on five hits and three walks in nine innings.
However, the unlikely battle between Lee and Frias could be the headline of Dodgers' camp as we near the end of spring training. Lee, who has made only one MLB start, has made three starts this spring and allowed four earned runs on seven hits and two walks over eight innings, while Frias, who has made just one start in five appearances, has allowed four earned runs on eight hits and one walk in 10 2/3 innings.
Fries, 26, has made 15 MLB starts in his first two seasons and is 4-6 with a 4.96 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 44 strikeouts in 78 innings. Lee, 24, is still a prospect and was knocked around in his only MLB start last year against the Mets (4 2/3 innings, 7 ER, 11 H, 1 BB). Lee could be the more likely option because he was a first-round draft choice of the Dodgers back in 2010, while Frias' experience in the bullpen is something the team would probably prefer in order to keep that questionable unit intact.
The Dodgers' bullpen finished with a 3.91 ERA last year (19th in MLB) and opponents hit .249 off their relievers (20th in MLB). Frias made only four relief appearances last year due to the issues the Dodgers had with the back end of the rotation, but the right-hander is 2-0 with a 3.94 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 17 career games (32 innings) in that role, which would be of help to that unit.
If Lee can finish the spring strong, he could be the leading candidate to start 2016 off in the rotation. However, that's assuming Frias doesn't sway Roberts or Beachy/Bolsinger manage to come back quicker than expected from their injuries.