The bullpen is in better shape now with Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech back, so Casparius made his second start of the year Wednesday, pitching four innings of one-run ball against the Padres. Expectations are that he’ll remain in the rotation and face the Padres again next week.

Ben Casparius has had to learn to keep things fluid. He’d never been through a reliever’s routine until this spring training, but made his first Opening Day roster with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team’s long man.

Teoscar Hernández broke a sixth-inning tie with a three-run homer and Michael Conforto also went deep for the Dodgers, who beat the Padres 5-2 on Wednesday to take two of three games at Petco Park.

Manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday's 5-2 win over San Diego that Casparius will operate as a traditional starter in his next appearance, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports. "Where we're at now, currently, he's certainly showing that he's one of five [starters]," Roberts said of Casparius. "The next time he's on the mound, it'll be as a starter."

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the media that right-hander Ben Casparius would transition back to a starting role after the loss of Tony Gonsolin.

The Dodgers take care of players and their families,” one respondent noted. “The Yankees and Dodgers are the gold standards for players,” said another. “Accommodations. Always in on free agents. Home stadium is always packed.

In an electrifying showdown between San Diego and the Dodgers, young pitcher Ben Casparius made his mark facing Manny Machado.

Martín Maldonado draws a bases-loaded walk from Ben Casparius to score Xander Bogaerts and give the Padres a 1-0 lead over the Dodgers in the 2nd