Alex Vesia Trending Up But Has ‘To Be Better’

The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped their series finale to the Minnesota Twins with a 3-2 loss where their pitching staff turned in some mixed results overall as they didn’t have their best stuff but still combined to pitch a solid game.

Bobby Miller only allowed two runs, but it came in just four innings with three walks. He was replaced by Alex Vesia, who recorded two outs and gave up the game-losing home run.

Vesia gave up the homer on the second pitch he threw, which was a 93 mph fastball near the middle of the plate to Edouard Julien. Vesia believes he’s in a good spot overall, but he just made one mistake that cost him, he said via SportsNet L.A.:

“Today was just I made one bad pitch. I feel like the ball has been coming out pretty good. Just got to be better.” 

Vesia has been off to a poor start this season, throwing 6.2 innings in seven games with a 4.05 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. Although he has given up runs in consecutive outings, the left-hander feels he’s trending in the right direction:

“Good. It’s been pretty good. I like where I’m going and trending. I feel like I’m in a pretty decent spot. Just have to be better.”

Both of the runs Vesia allowed against the Twins came via the home run, so he has been watching video to see if there’s a specific problem to address or if it’s just mistakes being made:

“Oh yeah. I’m the hardest person on myself. So going over different mechanics, pitches and stuff, and clearly today I missed my spot and he got me.”

The Dodgers need Vesia to get back on track as their primary left-hander out of the bullpen, but he has struggled since the implementation of the pitch clock rules. In 2021 and 2022, Vesia was one of the most effective relievers not just in the Dodgers’ bullpen, but all of MLB.

He owns a career 3.43 ERA with 209 strikeouts across 155 innings, but he is coming off a season in which he held a 4.35 ERA in 49.2 innings.

Can the Dodgers send Alex Vesia to the Minor Leagues?

Vesia has one option year remaining, so the Dodgers could send him to the Minor Leagues to work on things if they feel that’s necessary. They have made that decision in previous seasons as well, and it’s worked well for the southpaw.

However, that would leave Ryan Yarbrough as the Dodgers’ only lefty reliever, and their options to replace him are slim. Drew Pomeranz could be an option, but he was released by the Angels prior to the season.