Los Angeles Dodgers: Tony Gonsolin makes his MLB debut

Tony Gonsolin is making his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers as the offense looks to provide enough run support to win the series.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have yet another rookie that is making his MLB debut on Wednesday, this time in the starting rotation as Tony Gonsolin is making his MLB debut for the Boys in Blue.

Gonsolin is starting after fast-tracking through the minor leagues and becoming one of the Dodgers’ highest-touted prospects last year. Dodger fans got a taste of him in Spring Training, and for the most part, Gonsolin delivered on the hype.

Gonsolin was drafted in the ninth round in 2016 and has made quick work of his minor league career. He started 2018 with the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and spent the majority of the year there before making nine starts in Double-A.

That is when the hype started to pick up around Gonsolin and he started 2019 on the Oklahoma City Dodgers. He has made eight starts in Triple-A this season with a 2.77 ERA and 10.7 K/9 rate.

Gonsolin is the fourth-highest rated prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, per MLB Pipeline. He has big league velocity with an elite out pitch in his splitter. His developed four-pitch mix with his above-average curve and slider has turned him from a reliever in the minor leagues to the starting prospect he is today.

While every Dodger fan should be confident in Gonsolin in his first career big league start, the offense is still going to look to provide more run support than the last two nights to make sure the rookie has a seamless debut.

And as part of our Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak series, this is who we think can get the job done and get at least one base hit on Wednesday.

Jason’s pick (Current streak: 2): Cody Bellinger

The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing rookie right-hander Taylor Clarke for the second time this season (the first coming in early June) in his eighth career start.

Clarke did fairly decent against the Dodgers on June 4 despite his 6.48 ERA. Clarke settled down after allowing two runs in the first inning to allow just three runs (one of which was unearned) over five innings of work.

Although the Diamondbacks lost that game 9-0, Clarke certainly did his part in keeping his team in the ballgame.

The Dodgers are going to look for the same outcome against Clarke, but hopefully with some early offense instead of late offense. Thus, we are going with the guy we picked last time the team faced Clarke, who is rested after an off-day and ready to explode, Cody Bellinger.

Bellinger went 1-2 against Clarke in the first matchup with a triple and two RBIs. There is no better matchup to pick Bellinger on than against a young right-handed pitcher who lefties hit .306 against.

Hopefully, Bellinger can put up two or more RBIs off of Clarke yet again and the offense can jump on the rookie pitcher to give their rookie pitcher a comfortable lead in his MLB debut.