The Los Angeles Dodgers are grappling with a wave of injuries as they head into the most crucial stretch of the baseball season. A series of setbacks has left the team scrambling to patch up their pitching rotation, which has been a cornerstone of their success this year.
Manager Dave Roberts delivered some discouraging news, confirming that right-hander Gavin Stone is "very unlikely" to return this season due to persistent shoulder soreness. Stone, who has not pitched since August 31, made 25 starts before his deactivation, posting a respectable 3.53 ERA (111 ERA+) and a 3.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His performance earned him an estimated 1.8 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), underscoring his value to the team.
Adding to the Dodgers' woes, Tyler Glasnow is also experiencing injury issues, further depleting the team's postseason pitching depth. The absence of such crucial players places additional pressure on the remaining rotation and bullpen to deliver in high-stakes situations.
The current state of the Dodgers rotation is a patchwork of available arms. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, and Landon Knack are the mainstays, while Bobby Miller has recently been optioned to Triple-A following a rough outing in which he allowed four runs on seven hits over just two innings against the Miami Marlins. This move signals the club’s intent to give Miller more time to refine his pitches away from the high-pressure environment of major league play.
"I'm not sure," Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman told MLB.com when asked about the feasibility of the injured players making a return. "I'm optimistic he is going to do everything he possibly can. There's just so much unknown around it that we're going to do all we can to dominate each day, and hopefully, when he starts throwing, he can ramp up from there. It's just hard to speculate right now."
Besides Stone and Glasnow, the Dodgers are also missing key contributors like Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, River Ryan, and Emmet Sheehan. Each of these players has had spells of brilliance this season, and their absence leaves significant gaps in the team’s lineup.
Despite these challenges, the Dodgers boast an 89-62 record as of Wednesday. They maintain a 3 1/2 game lead in the National League West and hold a two-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL's second seed. However, they trail the Philadelphia Phillies by two games for the top seed, a coveted spot that ensures home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The battle for advantageous seeding and the right to play at Dodger Stadium is critical. Each win or loss from this point on can significantly impact their postseason journey. Managing these pitching dilemmas with a blend of strategic acumen and player support will be crucial for the Dodgers as they inch closer to playoff baseball.
The resilience and depth of the club are being tested in ways they didn't envision at the start of the season. All eyes will be on Roberts and his staff as they navigate these treacherous final weeks, hoping to stabilize the ship and enter the playoffs with momentum on their side.