Last offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired several injured relievers in hopes of helping them in the second half of the season and in the postseason. Best laid plans of mice and men, unfortunately, none have worked out so far.
As the regular season nears an end, there are still some guys trying to make their way back, but given where things are at on the calendar, it's unlikely anyone will be able to make a difference this October.
Here's the latest news and updates from the IL:
Blake Treinen
Treinen underwent surgery on his right shoulder last offseason. He hoped he would return toward the end of this season, but on a recent rehab assignment, he experienced soreness in his surgically repaired shoulder. The Dodgers immediately shut him down.
The club holds a conditional option on Treinen for the 2024 season.
Jimmy Nelson
The veteran Nelson underwent Tommy John surgery during the 2021 season and has been attempting a comeback ever since. While he's been throwing at Triple-A over the last few months, it's unlikely that he will pitch in the major leagues during the 2023 season.
Yency Almonte
Almonte is progressing from a knee injury but the calendar is running out for him to make significant strides before the start of postseason play. Manager Dave Roberts said that, in a best case scenario, Almonte could be available if the Dodgers make it past the first round of the playoffs, but even then nothing is guaranteed.
Daniel Hudson
Hudson is in the same situation as Almonte. He's expected to throw to batters in Colorado this week and the team will progress from there. An NLCS return is a best case scenario.
Given the veteran's track record, he has a stronger possibility of joining the roster if he proves healthy enough to get batters out.
Walker Buehler
Buehler couldn’t return from last August’s Tommy John surgery. He hoped to contribute to the Dodgers this season, and he made amazing strides. He even made a rehab start in Oklahoma City in early September. Buehler wasn’t recovering as fast as he should. Everyone decided to postpone Buehler’s return until next spring training.
Final Thoughts
During this season, the Dodgers have suffered many injuries to their pitching staff. These injuries led to the emergence of Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan.
Ryan Pepiot, who earned a spot in the Dodger starting rotation, was the only pitcher who has returned from injury stronger than ever. Not debuting in the major leagues until August, Pepiot undoubtedly will play an integral role in the postseason.
Despite all the injuries, the Dodgers remain in a good spot heading into postseason play. The NLDS begins on October 7th.
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