With their starting rotation stretched thin due to injuries, the Los Angeles Dodgers have made a bold move — giving right-hander Ben Casparius a shot in the starting rotation.
After another strong outing out of the bullpen earlier this week — where he threw four innings of one-run ball against the Padres — manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Casparius will transition into a starting role for the foreseeable future.
Roberts told reporters before the game that with the club short on healthy starters, they’re looking to stretch Casparius out further. After today’s performance, the decision was made official: his next appearance will come as a starter.
Let’s break down why this move makes sense, how Casparius has earned it, and what it means for the rest of the season.
Who Is Ben Casparius?
Casparius, a fifth-round pick in 2021, made his MLB debut last August and immediately impressed. Over 8⅓ innings down the stretch, he posted a 2.16 ERA and a 1.73 FIP . He was so effective that the Dodgers added him to their postseason roster — and he delivered when it mattered most.
In six-plus innings across the NLCS and World Series, Casparius held opponents to a 1.42 ERA , showing poise far beyond his experience level.
This season, he’s only gotten better.
Through 44 innings in 2025, Casparius has maintained elite numbers:
- 2.86 ERA
- 1.89 FIP
- 26.0% strikeout rate
- Just 5.1% walk rate
He’s been one of the most reliable arms in the Dodgers’ pitching mix — even if he was only being used in relief.
Why the Move to Starting Role?
The timing couldn’t be better for a change.
With key starters like Tony Gonsolin , Blake Snell , Tyler Glasnow , and Roki Sasaki all currently on the injured list, the Dodgers have had to get creative with their rotation. Even Shohei Ohtani is still weeks away from returning to the mound.
That leaves them leaning heavily on internal options, and frankly, not many have stepped up.
Lefty Justin Wrobleski , who got the first crack at filling in, has struggled with a 7.20 ERA in 15 innings this year. Bobby Miller and Landon Knack haven’t fared much better, posting ERAs north of 5.00.
Right-hander Nick Frasso is the only other starter on the 40-man roster, but he hasn’t yet reached the majors and has had his own ups and downs in Triple-A.
Given those circumstances, promoting Casparius — who already has proven big-league success — seems like a no-brainer.
What Can We Expect From Casparius as a Starter?
So far, Casparius has been limited to facing lineups just once or twice through the order. He’s never been asked to go deeper than about 70 pitches, maxing out at 54 in this latest start-like outing.
But given how efficiently he works and how dominant he’s been, there’s reason to believe he can handle more.
He doesn’t overpower hitters with velocity, but he mixes speeds well, keeps the ball low in the zone, and generates weak contact. His pitch arsenal includes a solid fastball, a sharp slider, and an improving changeup — tools that should serve him well in longer outings.
Even if the Dodgers don’t expect him to go deep into games, using him as a “bulk guy” who can eat up innings through the fifth or sixth could give the back end of the bullpen a much-needed break.
A Temporary Fix or Something More?
While the Dodgers are giving Casparius this opportunity out of necessity, it’s not hard to imagine him making the most of it.
If he continues to perform — especially against tough lineups — he might find himself sticking around in the rotation, at least until some of the bigger names return.
Still, with so many high-end starters ahead of him on the depth chart, it’s unlikely he’ll hold onto the role permanently unless more injuries pop up.
For now, though, it’s a chance to prove he belongs — and given how well he’s done so far, that shouldn’t be in question for long.
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