Pitcher injuries have once again been a major issue for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the early parts of the season, and it has led to relying on their depth and heavily utilizing some of the healthy arms on the roster.
Among their injured group of starters include Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan, River Ryan and Gavin Stone. The latter two are out for the season, but all the other pitchers have a chance to return this year.
In the bullpen, the Dodgers are without Brusdar Graterol, Edgardo Henriquez, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates, Kyle Hurt, Michael Grove. All of them have a chance to return, except for Grove and it’s unlikely for Hurt.
Most of the pitchers are still a while away from returning, but there are some encouraging updates on a few of them.
Dodgers updates
Shohei Ohtani
The Dodgers have slow-played Ohtani in his rehab, but he started throwing sliders and curveballs in his latest bullpen session on Wednesday.
“Yeah, he was spinning in a little bit more in the touch and feel,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I’m not sure what’s to come. Hopefully he comes out of it well, which is what I would expect. And then we’ll see what he does at Citi Field on Saturday, but there might be a little bit more of a progression increase. So we’ll see what that means.”
That was one of the last key steps before Ohtani could begin facing hitters, and that may be coming soon, although Roberts was non-committal on that front.
“We’ll see, I don’t know,” Roberts said. “We’ll see.”
Kirby Yates
Yates suffered a hamstring strain that landed him on the 15-day injured list, but continues to improve each day. Yates said the Dodgers told him he would be sidelined for about two to four weeks, and Tuesday was the first time he didn’t feel any tightness or pain while walking.
“He’s playing catch,” Roberts said. “The hamstring felt better yesterday walking than it did two days ago. So he’s just trying to make sure we keep his arm moving. But yeah, he’ll be back as well with the other guys. So I’m just not sure.
“He talked to me and said he doesn’t think it’s going to be too long. But again, this is the first time he’s ever dealt with it.”
Tyler Glasnow
Glasnow seems likely to be the first Dodgers starter to return, and he is set to throw his first bullpen session since going on the injured list. Blake Snell has been playing catch, but won’t reach that point yet.
“Glass is going to throw a ‘pen on Friday, so they’ll both be here with Blake Treinen as well,” Roberts said. “Roki will be here. And so I think that’s where they’re at right now.”
Edgardo Henriquez
Henriquez, who fractured his left foot, was among nine pitchers to begin the season on the IL. His return has since been slow, and there’s not much clarity, but he has been making some progress.
“I know he’s throwing,” Roberts said. “It seems a lot longer, this process of him coming back, so I just have no idea he’s going to come back. So obviously, he’ll be on rehab assignments, and that’s going to be probably five or six (games) before we even have a conversation of him coming back here.”
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