No. 5 starter on light duty at season’s outset

Left-handed pitcher Dave Roberts is not a candidate for the Dodger starting rotation.

By Jon Weisman

A bit of calm has arrived this morning after this weekend’s fifth-starter whiplash, in which the Dodgers’ three principal candidates for the final spot in the rotation seemed to fall by the temporary wayside.

Mike Bolsinger, who had emerged as the winner of the derby, has an oblique injury that isn’t serious, in the same way that rush hour at In ‘N Out isn’t serious — he’ll get where he needs to go, but he still has to bide his time.

From Doug Padilla of ESPN.com:

… He believes he can get back on track if he can get in one more start before exhibition games end April 2. The Dodgers leave Arizona on March 30 but play three games against the Los Angeles Angels in Southern California in advance of the April 4 season opener at San Diego.

“[Bolsinger] said there was significant improvement, but I think with the oblique we want to be cautious,” manager Dave Roberts said. “And I have used that word cautious numerous times this spring. But we do. It’s going to be asymptomatic in when he picks up a baseball again, so it could be a day, it could be two days. We’ll continue to be hopeful.”

Remember, Los Angeles doesn’t require a permanent solution at No. 5 right this minute. Rather, the Dodgers need a No. 5 starter only once before April 16 — on April 8 at San Francisco.

In the meantime, the Dodgers are reconsidering other options, including Brandon Beachy (recovering from a small bit of tendinitis), Zach Lee (whose option to the minors can be rescinded) and Carlos Frias (ever-straddling the line between starter and reliever).

Joe Blanton, on the other hand, will remain in long relief, according to Dave Roberts (via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.)

Gurnick added that Corey Seager ” felt fine one day after his first extensive workout,” but Andre Ethier was to have a bone scan to make sure nothing was missed in the X-ray Friday on his right shin.