In a season defined by injuries to their pitching staff, the Los Angeles Dodgers are turning to an unexpected source of stability: rookie right-hander Ben Casparius.
Originally slated as an opener for Wednesday’s series finale against the Padres, Casparius impressed with four innings of one-run ball, helping Los Angeles secure a 5-2 victory. After the game, manager Dave Roberts confirmed Casparius would remain in the rotation—at least for now.
Ben Casparius Earns Rotation Shot as Los Angeles Dodgers Battle Injury Woes
According to MLB’s Sonja Chen, Casparius, 25, was only informed the night before that he’d be starting. He responded by retiring the top of the Padres’ order in the first, striking out Manny Machado on a well-placed four-seamer. The only trouble came in the second inning, when five Padres reached in succession. But a 99-mph throw from Andy Pages and a bases-loaded walk kept the damage minimal. Casparius then set down his final seven batters.
It was a crucial outing for a Dodgers team that punted the previous game—sending struggling Matt Sauer out for 111 pitches and using Kiké Hernández on the mound—to save arms for the series finale. Casparius rewarded that strategy.
And it’s not just a one-off performance. A 2021 fifth-rounder, Casparius debuted last August with a 2.16 ERA and a 1.73 FIP, earning a postseason roster spot and thriving with a 1.42 ERA across 6 1/3 October innings. This year, he’s built on that success, posting a 2.86 ERA with a stellar 1.89 FIP over 44 innings while striking out 26% of batters and walking just 5.1%.
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With eight Dodgers starters currently on the injured list—including Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and Tony Gonsolin—Casparius has become essential. Other internal options have struggled mightily, and the club is short on alternatives with MLB experience.
While the eventual returns of several injured aces could push Casparius back to a bullpen role, his ability to fill multiple roles has been a key to his success. “Taking that reliever mindset—pitch by pitch—has helped me slow the game down,” Casparius said.
He may not be the long-term answer in the rotation, but right now, Ben Casparius is exactly what the Dodgers need: reliable, efficient, and unfazed by the moment.