Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Paxton's next start will be at Arizona on Monday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton would be on regular rest Sunday after he started Tuesday's game against the Nationals, but the Dodgers will go with a bullpen game Sunday in Toronto and give Paxton an extra day of rest. The southpaw has managed a 2.61 ERA but a 1.55 WHIP and 11:17 K:BB through 20.2 innings this season.

Paxton came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Nationals, allowing one run on five hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out only one.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran southpaw needed 89 pitches (52 strikes) to record his 14 outs, but Paxton wouldn't have gotten a win even if he had completed five innings as the Dodgers didn't take the lead until the eighth. He's issued at least three free passes in three of his four starts so far in 2024, and while his 2.61 ERA looks good on the surface, Paxton's 1.55 WHIP and 11:17 K:BB through 20.2 innings are very worrying. He'll try to sharpen his control in his next outing, a homecoming of sorts for Big Maple this weekend in Toronto.

Paxton did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Padres, allowing three runs on three hits and eight walks while striking out one over five innings.

EDGE Analysis

The fact that Paxton only managed to give up three runs while issuing a career-high eight walks is impressive in its own way. He issued at least one walk in every inning but managed to pitch himself out of trouble for the most part. He did allow a solo home run to Manny Machado to begin the fourth and later came back out for the sixth where he walked the first two batters before being replaced by Ryan Brasier, who would allow both inherited runners to score. Through three starts, Paxton owns a respectable 2.81 ERA but that also comes with a concerning 1.50 WHIP and 10:14 K:BB in 16 innings. He'll look to be more effective his next time out, which currently projects to be against the Mets next weekend.

Paxton (2-0) picked up the win Monday, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over six innings against Minnesota. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton nailed his first quality start of 2024 on Monday, getting on the board in the category after securing eight quality starts in 19 appearances last season. While he only allowed four base runners, Paxton was tagged for a pair of runs when Manuel Margot launched a two-run homer in the third to plate Austin Martin, who reached via walk. With one of baseball's best offenses behind him, Paxton seems primed to reach double-digit wins for the first time since 2019 if he can stay healthy.

Paxton (1-0) earned the win over San Francisco on Monday, pitching five shutout innings during which he allowed four hits and five walks while striking out five batters.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton put quite a bit of traffic on the basepaths due largely to his five free passes, but he held the Giants to an 0-for-4 mark with runners in scoring position to escape without allowing any runs. The veteran hurler has been troubled by injuries in recent campaigns but looked completely healthy in his 2024 debut, tossing 97 pitches. Paxton hasn't completed more than 100 innings or posted better than a 4.50 ERA since 2019, so he's far from a sure bet to be a reliable starter for the entirety of the campaign, but he appears to have a set spot at the back of the Dodgers' rotation for the time being.

Paxton is scheduled to start Monday's series opener versus the Giants at Dodger Stadium.

EDGE Analysis

The oft-injured southpaw has opened both of the past two seasons on the injured list, but he made it out of spring training unscathed and is set to make his Dodgers debut Monday as the team's No. 5 starter. Paxton, who received a $2 million bonus by virtue of being included on the Opening Day roster, will now be guaranteed $9 million in 2023 and can pocket up to $4 million in incentives based on number of games started. The 35-year-old built up to five innings and 80 pitches in his final spring start March 26, so he should be capable of working deep enough into Monday's outing to qualify for a win.

Paxton isn't expected to join the Dodgers for their season-opening two-game set against the Padres in South Korea, though he's physically fine, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton isn't dealing with any sort of injury, but he wouldn't be pitching in any capacity for either of the two games in Seoul, so the Dodgers are opting to have him work on building up at home rather than making the long trip overseas. Though an unspecified health issue resulted in a reduction of the guaranteed portion of the contract Paxton signed with Los Angeles in January, the left-hander has looked healthy while getting in limited work this spring, allowing just one run on two hits with a 7:2 K:BB over four innings. Paxton is lined up for a spot at the back of the Dodgers' rotation for the upcoming campaign.

Paxton will make his Cactus League debut Thursday against the Reds, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paxton had the guaranteed money on his contract lowered when an unspecified issue arose during his physical. However, he hasn't been under any restrictions this spring and is fully expected to be part of the Dodgers' Opening Day rotation.

Paxton said Sunday that he "has no doubt" he'll be ready for Opening Day, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Dodgers wound up lowering the guaranteed amount of Paxton's contract due to an unspecified physical issue, adding in roster bonuses based on the left-hander's availability. The injury concern is considered minor, so it's not a surprise to hear Paxton isn't worried about being ready to roll by the opener. He'll remain a major injury risk, of course, as the 35-year-old has made just 25 combined starts at the big-league level since the start of the 2020 season.

Paxton's guaranteed salary in his new contract with the Dodgers was lowered from $11 million to $7 million due to an unspecified health issue, Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.

EDGE Analysis

The health concern is not considered serious and obviously didn't prevent a deal from being completed, but the two sides did agree to some restructuring. Paxton received a $3 million signing bonus along with a guaranteed salary of $4 million, and he can get a $2 million roster bonus if he's on the roster either for the Dodgers' opening series in Korea against the Padres on March 20 or their domestic opener on March 28 versus the Cardinals. If he's added to the roster by April 15, Paxton will get a $1 million bonus, as well as another $1 million if he makes 20 starts. There are also additional games started incentives. All told, Paxton's contract could max out at $13 million. While it's not clear what injury led to the contract alterations, worth noting is that Paxton's 2023 season ended due to right knee inflammation.