May 30th, 2015 at 7:00 am 
by Harold Uhlman Zach Lee was pulled from his start with the Oklahoma City Dodgers against the Fresno Grizzles after only three innings of work on Friday night. The former first-round draft pick had pitched to only one hitter above the minimum in his three innings giving up a leadoff single to left fielder Robbie Grossman in the first inning, who he promptly picked off.
The only other base runner allowed by Lee was third baseman Matt Dominguez who was hit by a pitch but left stranded at first base.
Lee walked none while striking out two lowering his ERA to 2.38 on the season with the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate. He had thrown only 40 pitches – 23 of strikes – when abruptly removed from the game.
Could Lee’s early exit from Friday night’s game suggest that the Dodgers plan to use him for a spot start in Tuesday’s doubleheader in Colorado? (Photo credit – Nick Falzerano)
In his previous start Lee pitched seven innings of four-hit ball. He struck out three and walked one while lowering his ERA to 2.52. The question at that time was whether or not he would earn a phone call from the parent Dodgers with an invitation to make a start at the MLB level. He did not receive what might have been the expected call.
Following his exit from the game on Friday evening Lee was seen in the dugout, so it appears that he was not removed because of an injury. The most likely theory is that the 6′-4″ / 210-pound right-hander will be used in next Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. While Coors Field is certainly not the ideal place to make your MLB debut, logic dictates that the Dodgers will add a starting pitcher to fill the MLB-approved 26th man to their roster for the doubleheader instead of a position player to prevent Dodgers manager Don Mattingly from having to disrupt his five-man starting rotation.
One day after a 14-run outburst by OKC with Corey Seager going 6-for-6 and Buck Britton hitting a grand slam home run, the team found themselves in a tight pitching duel on Friday night.
Right-hander Josh Ravin took over the pitching duties for Lee and also pitched three scoreless innings. He struck out four Fresno hitters while holding them hitless.
David Huff entered the game in the seventh inning and the left-hander followed suit by pitching a perfect inning on 11 pitches. OKC pitchers at that point in the game had retired 15 consecutive Grizzlies hitters.
Grizzlies starter Tommy Shirley held the Dodgers scoreless through his six innings of work while giving up three hits and walking three. He struck out four.
Samuel Deduno, making his first appearance of the season with the Grizzlies, experienced some control issues in the seventh inning. Three walks, which included two wild pitches, loaded the bases for Darnell Sweeney. The left fielder worked another walk forcing in the first run of the game. A strike out by Darwin Barney limited the damage to that one run.
Unfortunately in the top of the eighth inning David Huff gave up a long home run to Matt Dominguez to left-center field allowing the Grizzlies to pull even with the Dodgers. Huff returned for the ninth inning and set the Grizzlies down in order.
In the bottom of the ninth inning first baseman Andy Wilkins led of the inning with a double to center field. Following an intentional walk to Scott Schebler catcher Brian Ward laced a single just inside the left field line driving in Wilkins with the game-winning run. The walk-off marked the fifth walk-off win for the OKC Dodgers this season.
Following the game the question was still being asked – What’s up with Zach Lee? If Mattingly holds true to form, we probably won’t know until Tuesday morning.
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If Lee is, in fact, called up to pitch in Tuesday’s doubleheader in Colorado (and I believe that he will be), it pretty much means that the delay in bringing him up to avoid starting his service time clock was pretty much a complete waste of time.
As most fans know, per the CBA, the Super Two percentage was increased this year from 17% to 22%, thereby making more players eligible for Super Two status. A June 2 call-up for Lee will most likely put him within that 22% when he eventually becomes arbitration eligible. That being said, if he is successful in the Bigs, it really won’t matter to a team with very deep pockets.
The thing to remember is that bringing Lee up as the 26th man for the doubleheader means that he will immediately be sent back down to Triple-A after the games. The caveat is that the 10-day rule is waived in this situation, so it is conceivable that he could be brought back up inside of those 10 days, although I do not see this happening – baring another injury to one of the Dodgers five starters, that is.
After mattingly’s comment earlier today it looks like its gonna be david huff instead of zach lee. Huff was recalled earlier today.
Imo it makes some sense it would be terrible to have your first start be at coors but i really hope zach gets his chance soon
Guess it wont be huff either. He pitched tonight
A bullpen game would be terrible imo it would burn out the bullpen and we’d still have a 4th game left the next day
Wonder what’s gonna happen
When the Dodgers picked up Ian Thomas in the Juan Uribe trade, Friedman said it was their plan to stretch him out onto a starter. He has made one relief appearance with the OKC Dodgers going 2.1 innings. Although he got the win in that outing, he gave up two home runs and six earned runs – and still got the win.
Although Friedman didn’t come right out and say it, he hinted that Thomas was actually the target of the trade, not Callaspo.
My guess is that Nicasio will go as long as he can – hopefully five innings – and then Thomas for two or three, and then the usual suspects. If it’s a blowout one way or the other, I expect to see Hatcher go a couple innings – if necessary.