The Dodgers wrapped up spring training with a loss to the Angels on Tuesday night.
It was the longest Dodger game of the spring, lasting over three hours. Los Angeles cycled seven different pitchers onto the mound to get through eight innings, since the Angels did not have to bat in the ninth.
Ryan Pepiot made his final start before the regular season and struggled. It took the right hander 86 pitches to throw 3 2/3 innings, and he allowed five earned runs to cross. Pepiot surrendered two home runs and walked four in the outing.
For Pepiot, it was a start reminiscent of his command struggles in the majors last year. He had been much more efficient this spring until his start tonight and will need to revert to better efficiency in the regular season. The Dodgers' No. 6 prospect is opening the year with the fifth spot in the rotation, which he will likely hold until Tony Gonsolin returns from injury. He will make his first regular season start on Monday against the Rockies.
Ryan Pepiot’s final spring start:
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) March 29, 2023
3.2 IP
6 H
5 ER
4 BB
5 K
86 P
He finishes spring training with a 5.19 ERA. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/ZIQyuNkDVj
Pepiot was the only pitcher to appear who will be on the Opening Day roster. Jimmy Nelson made his best relief appearance of the spring by throwing a perfect inning, but he will start the year on the injured list. The rest of the innings were filled by prospects including Ben Harris and Kyle Hurt.
Offensively, Miguel Rojas had the biggest hit of the game. He tallied a two-run single in the fifth that tied the game at five. Overall, the shortstop went 1-2 with a walk.
Rojas posted an .831 OPS in his productive spring. Mainly valued for his defensive abilities, Rojas having a solid season at the plate would be icing on the cake for Los Angeles. The veteran also contributes in a leadership role, particularly around his rookie middle-infield partner Miguel Vargas.
Miguel Rojas came up with a clutch hit to tie the game pic.twitter.com/2Ytj84oZ7B
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) March 29, 2023
The other Dodgers runs were driven in by Mookie Betts, Will Smith and Max Muncy. They tallied one hit each in the game.
J.D. Martinez went 3-4 with a double and a run in a good performance. He has started to find more consistency after a rough beginning to the spring, and will play a big role in the Dodgers offense this year.
Lastly, Chris Taylor had his third straight positive game at the plate. The utilityman went 1-2 with a double, two walks and two runs scored. Across the three-game Freeway Series, Taylor batted .333 with two home runs and 10 total bases.
With this game concluding Cactus League action for the Dodgers, they finished the spring with a 14-13 record. All eyes now shift to Thursday, when they will take on the Diamondbacks in a rare Opening Day night game. Julio Urías will make his first career Opening Day start to kick off the 2023 season.