Dodgers announce disappointing news as team deals with thinning rotation

Manager Dave Roberts' group of starters has been bitten by injuries all season. But they most recently lost left-hander Julio Urias, who was placed on administrative leave after he was arrested Sunday on suspicion of felony domestic violence. According to a report from ESPN's Alden Gonzalez, Urias is "widely considered highly unlikely" to take the mound again this season.

With a pair of recent All-Stars in Buehler and Tony Gonsolin joined by Urias and 26-year-old flamethrower Dustin May all being unavailable, the Los Angeles rotation looks nothing like Dodgers fans were hoping for as they near another NL West title.

The team has one of the best hurlers of all time in Clayton Kershaw atop the starting five, but the franchise icon is 35 years old with nearly 3,000 career innings on his left arm. Per Gonzalez's report, Kershaw "pitched through diminished velocity" earlier this week and Roberts has said that the future Hall of Famer is experiencing shoulder problems.

Two-time All-Star Lance Lynn would presumably follow Kershaw in a playoff series, but the 36-year-old is having the worst season of his career with a 10-11 record, 6.09 ERA and 1.42 WHIP while surrendering a major league-leading 40 home runs. Lynn — who was traded from the Chicago White Sox in late July — has been slightly better since arriving west, but still not No. 2 material at 4-2 with a 4.95 ERA.

After the pair of thirtysomethings, Gonzalez wrote that the Dodgers are expected to "rely heavily on" arms like Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot and Emmet Sheehan.

Miller and Sheehan are in their first big league seasons, while Pepiot has made six appearances this year after 16 outings in 2022. Perhaps most importantly, none of them have ever pitched in the playoffs.