*  *  * Updated: August 1, 2017 at 2:30 pm PT  *  *  *

If the 2017 season has taught us anything, it has taught us to expect the unexpected when it comes to projecting who will make upcoming starts for the Dodgers.

With Monday’s last-minute surprise acquisition of 30-year-old / five-year MLB veteran right-hander Yu Darvish, there is certainly the possibility that the currently listed probables for the three-game series against the Braves beginning tonight at brand new SunTrust Park in Atlanta could be altered to get Darvish into his first game wearing a Dodger uniform. That said, it is also possible that the Dodgers may opt to have Darvish make his Dodgers debut on Friday, when the Dodgers begin a weekend series against the Mets at Citi Field in New York.

Darvish’s fellow countryman Kenta Maeda will open the three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta on Tuesday night, followed by right-hander Brock Stewart on Wednesday and left-hander Alex Wood on Thursday. Darvish will make his Dodgers debut on Friday against the Mets at Citi Field.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Darvish last pitched for the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, July 26 against the Miami Marlins at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. It did not go well for the Habikino, Japan native. In his 3.2 innings of work, the 6′-5″ / 220-pound hard-throwing right-hander allowed 10 runs on nine hits, including two home runs in the first inning. He did, however, strike out five of the 22 batters he faced while issuing two walks. It most certainly was not what you would call a perfect audition for a guy being shopped around for a potential upcoming trade at the July 31 MLB non-waiver trade deadline. That being said, if the Dodgers wait until Friday to have Darvish make his Dodgers debut, he will have gone nine days between starts, which could either be a very good thing or a very bad thing. Some guys pitch better after an extended time between starts while others, such as Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, absolutely hate not pitching every five days.

As it stands right now, Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda (9-4, 4.09 ERA) is slated to face Braves right-hander Lucas Sims, who will be making his major league debut in game-1 of the three-game set in Atlanta on Tuesday night (no pressure there). Wednesday’s listed Dodgers starter is right-hander Brock Stewart (0-0, 0.00 ERA), with the Braves starter listed as TBA. Thursday, the Dodgers are scheduled to send left-hander Alex Wood (12-1, 2.38 ERA) to the mound, with the Braves starter again TBA. However, with the acquisition of Darvish and the need for the Dodgers to create a spot on their 25-man roster for him, there is a very good chance that either Stewart or fellow right-hander Ross Stripling will be optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City, with the other remaining as the so-called long reliever in the Dodgers bullpen. But regardless of who stays and who goes, this certainly suggests that it will not be Brock Stewart who starts for the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Roster spots will also be necessary for newly acquired left-handed relievers Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani, with left-hander Edward Paredes and right-hander Josh Ravin being the most likely candidates to be optioned back to OKC.

Stay tuned…

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  *  *  * Updated: August 1, 2017 at 2:30 pm PT  *  *  *

The Dodgers have announced that Darvish will indeed make his Dodgers debut on Friday, August 4, 2017 against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Additionally, newly acquired left-handed reliever Tony Watson has been added to the Dodgers 25-man roster and left-hander Edward Paredes optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Tony Cingrani is expected to be added to the 25-man roster on Thursday.