Joe Wieland will become Dodgers’ ninth starter this year on Wednesday
REPORTING FROM MILWAUKEE — The Dodgers’ game in Milwaukee on Wednesday will be their 27th of the season. In that time, they’ll already have used nine starting pitchers.
The latest, the team announced, will be Joe Wieland, a 25-year-old right-hander who made four appearances with the San Diego Padres last season. He was called up from triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Scott Baker, who was sent to triple A last week.
Wieland will bump back right-hander Carlos Frias’ start by one day, to Thursday. Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said he wanted to give Frias extra rest. Frias was available out of the bullpen Monday, Mattingly said, so he did not throw a bullpen session.
“With Carlos, we feel like it can’t hurt to give him an extra day,” Mattingly said.
Major league teams have used, on average, 6.1 starting pitchers this year. The Dodgers are at the extreme end of the spectrum, though that is not exactly new. Last season, they used 12 different starters.
The team has had to scramble after injuries to Hyun-Jin Ryu, who isn’t eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list until May 26, and Brandon McCarthy, who underwent season-ending surgery last week.
Wieland’s 11 1/3 innings (including two starts) last season were forgettable. He allowed nine runs, 16 hits and five walks. This year, he said, his arm feels stronger.
He is 3-0 in triple A with a 3.60 earned-run average and 22 strikeouts in 20 innings. The Dodgers gave him the nod over options that included Mike Bolsinger, who is 2-0 with an 0.64 ERA for Oklahoma City and made a start for the Dodgers on April 23, holding the Padres to one run in 5 2/3 innings and getting no decision.
“Without going into it, it’s just a good choice for this time,” Mattingly said.
Follow Zach Helfand on Twitter @zhelfand
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