Dodgers starting Trevor Bauer on Sunday is the wrong decision, period

The Los Angeles Dodgers are moving forward with Trevor Bauer as the starting pitcher for Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals.

Bauer has been accused of sexual assault in a restraining order and subsequent suit. More details have since leaked out in regards to these allegations, which could turn criminal after Bauer was recorded on a phone call with the victim admitting to committing sexual acts while she was unconscious.

Sexual assault is always horrifying, and Bauer’s case is especially heinous. The victim suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured skull and bruises to her private areas. The following excerpt courtesy of The Athletic says it all, really:

"“According to the woman’s declaration attached to the request and obtained by The Athletic, she suffered injuries as a result of the second encounter, including two black eyes, a bloodied swollen lip, significant bruising and scratching to one side of her face. In the woman’s declaration, signed under penalty of perjury of California state laws, she said that her medical notes state that she had ‘significant head and facial trauma’ and that there were signs of basilar skull fracture.”"

If these allegations are founded, it’s tough to see Bauer pitching again in a Dodgers uniform. Well, except for Sunday that is.

Dodgers starting Trevor Bauer on Sunday amid allegations of sexual assault

Dave Roberts is hiding behind Major League Baseball’s so-called investigation, stating his advice from the league was to proceed as normal until more information is collected. This is, undeniably, the wrong move, and an insult to the seriousness of the allegations against the 2020 NL Cy Young winner.

Until matters are solved, Bauer should be placed on paid leave. It’s an easy out for a Dodgers team that does not need more controversy in the middle of an NL West chase. By pitching Bauer on Sunday, Roberts is only welcoming chaos, and spitting in the face of due process.

Bauer, like everyone accused of a crime, deserves the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. But allowing him to continue pitching as if nothing has happened between his previous start and his next appearance, does far more harm than good.