The Los Angeles Dodgers have been bitten very hard by the injury bug, particularly on the starting pitching front. Tyler Glasnow just joined Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw, Gavin Stone, and Emmet Sheehan on the Injured List, leaving Los Angeles incredibly thin when it came to starters. Fortunately, Tony Gonsolin's first MLB start since August of 2023 gave the Dodgers everything they could've asked for.
Facing off against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium, Gonsolin is through three runs on six hits while striking out nine batters without issuing a walk across six innings of work. He needed just 77 pitches to complete this strong outing.
Getting a quality start from Gonsolin in his first start back from Tommy John Surgery was everything that Dodgers fans could've possibly asked for, and should get the organization excited about what's to come.
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Tony Gonsolin gives Dodgers rotation the depth it desperately needed
Sure, he faced a lackluster Marlins lineup, but still, getting through six innings and putting together a quality start in his first MLB appearance in a year and a half is an excellent sign. If Gonsolin looks like that in his first start back where he likely experienced some rust, look out.
This isn't just an ordinary pitcher that the Dodgers are getting back from the IL. Gonsolin went 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 24 starts in the 2022 season and became an NL All-Star. His 2023 season wasn't as promising, but his 4.98 ERA was inflated as a result of a brutal final start before undergoing Tommy John Surgery.
At his best, Gonsolin is an All-Star. At his worst, Gonsolin is a very solid back-end arm that the Dodgers desperately need. How many innings he has in his first season back from a year on the sidelines will be an interesting storyline to follow, but for now, while so many pitchers are injured, Gonsolin's availability is an extremely welcome addition.
Ironically enough, Gonsolin's next time out is also scheduled to be against this Marlins team. Perhaps an encore is in store. Dodgers fans will absolutely sign up for that after what he was able to accomplish on Wednesday.