Josiah Gray, one of the highly-touted prospects in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system, will be making his
major league debut on Tuesday in the second contest of a four-game set against the division-leading San Francisco Giants, who currently sport the best record in the majors.
Dennis first talked about the possibility of Gray’s debut in Saturday’s column.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team is expected to use a lefty opener, so the 23-year-old Gray will have to wait another time to make his first big league start. However, Gray will be expected to throw perhaps somewhere around 60-80 pitches in Tuesday’s game.
“It’s such a cool opportunity for him,” teammate Zach Reks said. “I’m so glad he finally got the call. You can just tell he’s feeling a little bit nervous. He’s got those butterflies. It’s awesome to see that.”
The Dodgers traded for Gray back in 2018, along with Jeter Downs, when they offloaded Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, and Alex Wood to the Cincinnati Reds. As we know, Downs no longer is in the Dodgers organization as he was traded to the Red Sox in the Mookie Betts deal.
Ironically enough, the left-hander Wood starts for the Giants tonight, so he will face the player he was once traded for in Gray.
Gray has only made four appearances at Triple-A Oklahoma City this year due to a shoulder injury that kept him out a couple of months. So far in those appearances, he’s posted a 2.87 ERA and a 0.64 WHIP in 15 ⅔ innings. He’s also struck out 22 batters while only walking two.
The right-hander is the highest-ranked pitching prospect in the Dodgers farm system, as well as the second-best prospect overall, according to MLB Pipeline.
With the trade deadline just a little under two weeks away, the Dodgers are looking for any pitching help they can get. They currently are down three starting pitchers from the beginning of the year. Hope is that Gray will help alleviate part of that problem. The youngster will look to make a strong impression and perhaps stick to a role with the major league club moving forward.
Overall, Gray’s minor league numbers across three levels over three years are a 14-5 record with a 2.41 ERA. He’s pitched 198 innings and recorded 228 strikeouts, giving up 135 hits.
In his last game on Thursday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Gray struck out seven batters just in 4 ⅔ innings on 68 pitches.
It will be quite exciting to see Gray make his debut, although the Dodgers may want to be cautious since he hasn’t thrown more than 70 pitches since returning from his injury.
In other news, Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager can potentially return Wednesday night. Seager has been out since May with a broken hand. Recently, Seager faced recovering reliever Corey Knebel in a simulated game. Roberts confirmed Seager’s potential return in a press conference Monday, although the shortstop has not undergone any rehab assignment.
After dropping the first game of the series Monday, the Dodgers look to get back in the win column in the second game. Wood is 8-3 with a 3.67 ERA this season.
Tuesday’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Pacific.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
If Gray does well tonight, he could conceivably have two more starts/appearances before the deadline in order to cement a spot on the staff. His next turn would be Sunday followed by Friday (trade deadline day).
Gonsolin looks hurt to me. Velo is down, command is almost non existent. When he’s right, he’s a real asset. He just doesn’t seem like the real Catman now.
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They will probably use an opener tonight, then bring Gray in. Only change in the Giants lineup is Tauchman hitting 7th and playing CF. No roster moves announced yet, my guess is that Burns get’s either DFA’d or moved to the IL, since he is already injured at OKC. Giants said to be looking at Marte of the Marlins.
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You guys know my thoughts by now. I am excited for Gray to get a shot. I think you learn a lot about people when they are put in competitive situations.
Reks so far is a great AAA player but again last night 3 K’s and could have helped the club coming up with RISP. So far Reks is fighting for mediocrity along with Raley and Peters.
Gray has promise and I am hoping they give at least Pepiot a shot.
I agree Gonsolin looks to be nursing an injury. Nelson is reportedly coming back soon and I personally think he is better than anyone you can get without massively overpaying.
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Somehow in this day and age, mediocre performance has come to mean ” nursing an injury ” how did this happen? Nobody plays today while ” nursing an injury”. If a guy is playing lousy, it could be that he is playing lousy. If you don’t know where your pitch is going, you will probably not pitch well. You will work on your mechanics, which is another joke. If Gonsolin is ” nursing an injury” what kind of injury is Bellinger nursing?
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A broken leg, off season shoulder surgery, tight hamstring. He ain’t right.
Gray’s stuff looks good but you can’t tube fastballs up here.
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Dodgers released Andy Burns, right now they have 12 position players on the roster, and only 3 are listed as infielders, Pujols, Turner and Muncy. Taylor is listed as an outfielder.
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They may only list 3 infielders but both catchers can play at least one infield position, Beaty and McKinstry can play two infield positions, Taylor three and Belli one, so they’re not in trouble there.
On the other hand, it’s possible that Mookie, JT and Muncy will all be unable to play tonight (haven’t seen any reports this morning so hopefully I’m in a panic for nothing). That might lead to a starting lineup with Barnes at second, ZMac at third, Beaty in right and only Reks on the bench.
Someone talk me off this ledge.
Of course Gray is a former shortstop, Gonsolin a former outfielder and Urias may be our best hitter so we’ve got this covered.
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A shutout could guarantee extra innings and possibly another walk off.
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Thanks Jeff. That eases my mind a whole lot. Good to have depth!
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Didn’t want you to worry Gordon. Leave the worrying to me.
Turns out my lineup wasn’t far off. The only thing I had wrong was Barnes at second.
It’s absolutely unbelievable that we are only a game out of first, with the second best record in all of baseball.
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Turner out, Betts out, Muncy is starting at 2nd base, They trade minor league OF Carlos Rincon to the Mets for Billy McKinney, who has some pop, but strikes out a lot too.
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Gray had a rough start but you could see the talent. I always want to see a couple of several innings starts before we judge if he is ready.
Is Seager going to play this series? I heard Wednesday.
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Yeah, but did they say which Wednesday?
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