The Dodgers’ injury-plagued bullpen acquired some reinforcements at present, because the group activated Kirby Yates from the 15-day injured record and Michael Kopech from the 60-day injured record. Proper-hander Chris Stratton was designated for task to open up house for Kopech on the 26-man and 40-man rosters, whereas Yates returns to take the place of yet one more injured pitcher, as Los Angeles positioned Tony Gonsolin on the 15-day IL as a result of proper elbow discomfort.
Turning to Gonsolin first, the concept of one other elbow problem is explicit ominous for a pitcher who is simply simply getting back from a Tommy John surgical procedure. Recovering from that August 2023 process stored Gonsolin sidelined for all of final season, after which a again damage suffered throughout Spring Coaching delayed his 2025 debut till April 30, and Gonsolin has since posted a 5.00 ERA over 36 innings and 7 begins.
It’s completely regular for pitchers to look rusty within the wake of such lengthy absences from the mound, although there hasn’t been loads to like about Gonsolin’s 2025 efficiency. Pluses embrace an above-average 24.2% strikeout fee and the truth that his 93.5mph fastball velocity matches his pre-surgery profession common, although Gonsolin was by no means a high-velo pitcher. Past these numbers, Gonsolin has been permitting quite a lot of exhausting contact and been strolling batters (11.2BB%) at an ungainly fee, plus the house run enhance that emerged in 2023 has carried over to 2025.
Any lingering elbow points might clarify these struggles, although Gonsolin and the Dodgers can solely hope that this discomfort is simply a short lived downside. Gonsolin is definitely upset over being sidelined once more so quickly after returning to motion, and Los Angeles has now misplaced one other arm from its beginning rotation.
Even with Kopech and Yates activated at present, the Dodgers’ injured record stands heavy with pitchers, as 14 hurlers stay sidelined. Gonsolin, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki comprise a lot of the rotation names on the record, with different starters like Gavin Stone, River Ryan, and Kyle Damage gone for 2025 as a result of longer-term accidents. Emmet Sheehan had a Tommy John surgical procedure in Might 2024 and is simply within the early phases of a rehab task, however he may very well be out there after the All-Star break. Shohei Ohtani has additionally been ramping up his throwing development and is predicted to return to pitching within the second half, and by this level, the Dodgers might have Ohtani’s arm as a lot because the lineup has relied on his MVP-level bat.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin Might, and Justin Wrobleski comprise the present makeshift L.A. rotation, and Ben Casparius is the likeliest candidate to get begins in Gonsolin’s place. The query should once more be requested if the Dodgers’ workers will ever attain a real breaking level on the pitching entrance, because the membership has remarkably remained a prime contender (and final yr’s World Collection champion) regardless of the seemingly endless stream of injured arms.
Getting Kopech and Yates again will at the very least deepen the reduction corps, which lately misplaced former nearer Evan Phillips to a Tommy John surgical procedure. Tanner Scott stays the Dodgers’ first selection for saves however supervisor Dave Roberts lately mentioned Scott wasn’t a lock for the nearer function, so an skilled former nearer like Yates or maybe Kopech would possibly get some consideration for ninth-inning work.
Yates had a 4.34 ERA over 18 2/3 innings for the Dodgers, although his peripherals recommend that Yates has suffered from quite a lot of unhealthy luck. The fitting-hander returns after a three-week stint on the IL as a result of a hamstring pressure, whereas Kopech is making his season debut. Kopech handled some forearm soreness early in Spring Coaching, after which developed a shoulder impingement close to the tip of camp that led to his placement on the 15-day and finally the 60-day IL as he wanted extra time to correctly rebuild his arm energy.
Los Angeles signed Stratton to a Main League deal on Might 25, and that is already the second time the righty has been DFA’ed throughout his transient time in Dodger Blue. Stratton cleared waivers, opted totally free company over an outright task to Triple-A, after which shortly re-signed with the Dodgers simply yesterday to a brand new contract. After permitting a run throughout an inning of labor in yesterday’s recreation, Stratton has a 6.75 ERA over 4 innings and three whole appearances with L.A. It may very well be that at present’s transfer is a paper transaction that might see Stratton quickly again with the Dodgers in just a few days’ time, or he might once more select free company and this time search out a task on a brand new group.
