First and foremost, I would like to apologize. I was just sitting down to write this post, and the thought in my head was about how all the Los Angeles Dodgers need to do from this point on is just stay healthy.
That was disrupted by the announcement that on Monday, the Dodgers placed right handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin on the 15-day IL, with right forearm strain. The placement is retroactive to August 26th.
In the corresponding move, Michael Grove was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Grove will start Monday’s game, which was supposed to be Gonsolin’s start.
Most fans immediately hoped that this was just another creative way for President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman to get Gonsolin some rest before the postseason. With a 19.5 game lead in the NL West, the Dodgers could afford to sit their top starter for a few weeks.
Indeed, Gonsolin has pitched more innings so far this season than he has in any previous, other than 2018. He currently sits at 128.1 innings pitched, and his high is 138.2 innings.
Gonsolin was having the best season of his pro pitching career. Even after Sandy Alcantara pitched a complete game on Sunday, allowing only one run, Gonsolin still has the best ERA in the National League, at 2.10. (Alcantara is very close, sitting at 2.13). Gonsolin is 16-1, with 116 strikeouts and a 0.86 WHIP.
However, sources within the team told L.A. Times Jack Harris that it is not a phantom injury as some have hoped, but the team believes it is not too serious. They feel they have gotten out ahead of it being severe, and that he should return to the Dodgers this season. The source also said Gonsolin felt some soreness after his between-starts bullpen, but reiterated they felt they got ahead of things.
The Dodgers did not get any starters at the trade deadline, believing that Walker Buehler, Dustin May, and Clayton Kershaw would all return.
Buehler will not return until 2024 after needing his second Tommy John surgery. May has looked dominant in his two starts since returning, and Kershaw is set to return to the starting rotation at the end of this week.
If the playoffs started today, the Dodgers rotation would be Julio Urías, May, and Tyler Anderson. Kershaw would be included if he ends the season healthy, and we have yet to see how Andrew Heaney would figure in there as well. The Dodgers may have to really rely on their bullpen, and offense, to get them through the playoffs more-so than other seasons.
But that is to be decided upon in October. For now, they just need to stay healthy. Fingers crossed.