Dodgers giving Mitch White time to feel at home in rotation

LOS ANGELES ― The Dodgers optioned Mitch White to Triple-A, and called him back up, 10 times each last season. To do so this year would be illegal. One mandate of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement holds that players can only be optioned to the minor leagues five times in a single season before outright assignment waivers are required, potentially allowing that player to be claimed by another team.

White is a fan of the rule.

Dare we call it … the “Mitch White Rule”?

“I’ve heard some talk of that,” the right-hander said Tuesday, “but to be fair, Louis Head had me beat. I think he had 12 (occasions of being optioned and recalled by the Tampa Bay Rays). You can call it whatever you want.”

Two months into the 2022 season, White is in no danger of running up against the option limit. His start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday will mark his third consecutive turn through the rotation – as close to a regular rotation spot as he’s held since making his debut in 2020.

After an abbreviated spring training and a long stint on the COVID-19 injured list, White is finally built up to pitch five innings. His most recent start (four scoreless innings last Thursday in Phoenix) was also his best this year.

The Pirates, coincidentally, were the opponent in the best game of White’s young career. Last August, he relieved Justin Bruihl in the second inning of a home game against Pittsburgh and pitched the final 7⅓ innings, finishing off a 9-0 victory and picking up his second career win.

“As far as the whole body of work, it’s really good,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of White. “He’s a four-pitch guy. I love the head. I love the pulse. He’s built up to five (innings) and 75 (pitches), can give us some length. He’s a confident pitcher right now.”

White said he was built up to four innings in spring training. But with the rest of the starters fully healthy, he began the season in the bullpen. A brief bout with COVID-19 landed him on the injured list on April 30. The Dodgers used the intervening weeks to get his right arm back in shape to start every fifth day (or so). Upon his return, the Dodgers needed every inning they could get from White.

A former second-round draft pick out of Santa Clara University, White was developed as a starter in the minor leagues. Now 27, he is getting a runway to showcase his talents while Clayton Kershaw and Andrew Heaney work back from injuries.

“However it ends up happening, I generally prefer starting,” he said, “but whatever gets me on the field is best, I’d say.”

INJURY UPDATES

Cody Bellinger missed his second straight game with a left adductor strain. He spent about 10 minutes shagging fly balls, hit during batting practice and worked out at Dodger Stadium.

However, Roberts said he preferred to give his center fielder an extra day to recover and get back to 100%.

“I feel like I’m good to go (Wednesday),” Bellinger said.

The injury arose during Sunday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bellinger said, then cropped up again Monday following the Dodgers’ flight home.

Roberts said Kershaw will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, his second in three days, then begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment on Saturday. The location is to be determined.

Among the Dodgers’ full-season minor league affiliates, only Class-A Rancho Cucamonga is playing at home Saturday.

Kershaw, who has been on the injured list since May 13 with inflammation in his right sacroiliac joint, will throw three or four innings plus another in the bullpen, Roberts said.

Heaney is expected to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment Friday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Roberts said he envisions Heaney will make at least “two, maybe three” rehab starts. The left-hander was placed on IL with shoulder inflammation on April 20.

Heaney threw a two-inning simulated game Monday at Dodger Stadium.

ALSO

The Dodgers promoted their top prospect, catcher Diego Cartaya, from Rancho Cucamonga to advanced Class-A Great Lakes. Cartaya, 20, batted .260 with a .405 on-base percentage and .550 slugging percentage in 33 games this season, his second with the Quakes.

UP NEXT

Pittsburgh (LHP José Quintana, 1-2, 2.15 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Mitch White, 1-0, 4.60 ERA), Wednesday, 5:10 p.m., SportsNet LA