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“I don’t think it should surprise anyone anymore. I think he’s just in such a good place mentally, physically.”

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Pretty high praise of Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, wouldn’t you say? Then again, for the guy with the best Earned Run Average in all of baseball, perhaps it isn’t high enough.

On Friday night in front of a Dodger Stadium crown of 48,076, all the 28-year-old Vacaville, CA native and Dodgers ninth-round draft pick in 2016 out of Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga, CA did was toss 7.2 innings of 1-run / four-hit baseball with eight strikeouts and no walks in the Dodgers 5-1 win over the NL West second-place San Diego Padres to take a 3.5-game lead in the division.

“He was outstanding tonight. He just pitched his tail off, and he’s been so consistent for us,” Roberts added.

What did the guy behind the plate have to say about the guy who will, in all likelihood, be the National League’s starting pitcher for the upcoming July 19, 2022 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium?

“He was just doing what he’s been doing, really,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said postgame. “He just has four pitches he can throw at any time. He’s got a lot of confidence right now on the mound. He’s putting us in positions to win each and every time he goes out there. You can’t ask much more of him.”

Well done, Catman!

Play Ball!

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