SAN FRANCISCO >> The Dodgers’ starting rotation will not be whole until at least May.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Monday that early projections of a “late April” return of Tony Gonsolin from his ankle injury might have been overly optimistic. Gonsolin will need more time to build up before he can rejoin the rotation.

“Slow going,” Roberts said of Gonsolin’s progress. “That ankle, the stability, the recovery, all of it. So (there has been) no setback, just kind of managing the workload.

“The hope initially was the end of April, so I think we’re bleeding into May.”

Gonsolin threw to hitters at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., on Monday, pitching the equivalent of two innings and then throwing a third in the bullpen. He is expected to repeat that with a higher pitch count later this week and stay at the training complex for “two, three weeks” before going on a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment. Gonsolin is expected to make at least three or four starts in the minors before he would be ready to make his season debut with the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, right-hander Ryan Pepiot has yet to start a throwing program. Pepiot made the team out of spring training as the fifth starter but went on the injured list with an oblique muscle injury to start the season.

“He still hasn’t picked up a baseball. I think today has been two weeks and he still has some discomfort,” Roberts said.

“Given that we had all confidence that he was over it from that one Mesa start (in the Cactus League). Then to kind of sit here where we’re at is certainly unfortunate.”

The spring injuries to Gonsolin and Pepiot created an opportunity for Michael Grove to open the season in the rotation. His first two starts have not gone well. Hitters are 14 for 35 (.400) against him and he has a 14.73 ERA over 7 1/3 innings.

“It is a performance league,” Roberts said. “But I also think that opportunities are still warranted. What that means right now, given what we have with the other two guys we talked about on the IL, I think that (Grove) deserves and will get more leash.”

Top prospects Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller are considered next on the depth chart of starting pitchers. Stone has made two starts with mixed results for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He allowed six runs in just 2 2/3 innings in his first start but rebounded to allow just one run on three hits in five innings in his next start.

Miller remains in Arizona at the extended spring training camp. The Dodgers are easing him into the season after Miller experienced some shoulder discomfort late in the 2022 season.

Outman in

The Dodgers will face a left-handed starting pitcher (Alex Wood) for the third time this season. Roberts said rookie outfielder James Outman will be in the starting lineup, the second time the left-handed hitter has started in those three games against lefty starters.

Roberts said he does not see Outman as a player who needs to be platooned.

“No, I don’t,” he said. “He hangs in there against a lefty. I’m not saying he’s going to play against every lefty. Chicago’s got a couple lefties so I might give him a day during that series.

“I don’t want him to be kind of pigeonholed too much at this point.”

Also

Roberts said reliever Jimmy Nelson threw an inning in a simulated-game setting at Camelback Ranch on Monday and could go on a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment. Nelson is returning from Tommy John surgery.