Dodgers Notes: Kershaw, Could, Graterol

Longtime Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has been sidelined for the whole lot of the 2024 season up to now after present process shoulder surgical procedure over the offseason, however not too long ago started a rehab project as he eyes a possible return someday subsequent month. That rehab project has already hit a snag, nonetheless, as supervisor Dave Roberts advised reporters (together with Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) at the moment that the veteran southpaw has felt “a bit little bit of soreness” within the aftermath of his rehab begin for the membership’s Excessive-A affiliate in Rancho Cucamonga earlier this week.

That soreness continued at the moment for the veteran lefty when he threw a lightweight bullpen session, and Roberts indicated that the membership is contemplating pushing again his subsequent rehab start- which is at the moment scheduled for Tuesday- relying on how he feels within the coming days. Kershaw is predicted to play catch tomorrow, and the way he feels after that session may decide whether or not or not the Dodgers go forward with the deliberate outing. The potential setback is a irritating one, as a comparatively speedy return by Kershaw could be massively impactful for a rotation that not too long ago misplaced each Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler to the injured record.

These accidents left the Dodgers to show to rookie right-hander Landon Knack within the fifth starter function behind Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, and James Paxton. Outdoors of that group of 5, nonetheless, the membership is missing in beginning depth that means additional accidents may show problematic for the membership. Even setting apart L.A.’s rapidly evaporating rotation depth, it’s price noting that the 36-year-old lefty is nearly assuredly one of many membership’s 5 greatest starters to start with; in any case, the long run Corridor of Famer hasn’t posted an ERA north of three.55 since his rookie marketing campaign again in 2008 and managed to place collectively a 2.46 ERA throughout 24 begins final yr regardless of enjoying by shoulder points.

Roberts additionally supplied extra optimistic harm updates to reporters (together with Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times) this night relating to right-handers Dustin May and Brusdar Graterol. The supervisor indicated that each pitchers have begun to throw bullpen periods and referred to as the periods “promising.” Whereas the timelines for every participant’s return are nonetheless unclear, Roberts expressed confidence that each would return to motion earlier than the 2024 season involves a detailed.

Could, 26, has had a irritating MLB profession up to now. The righty debuted late in his age-21 season again in 2019 and loved some success over his first two large league campaigns, with a 2.98 ERA and three.96 FIP in 90 2/3 innings of labor, first out of the bullpen in 2019 after which as a member of the rotation through the shortened 2020 marketing campaign. Could went on to win the World Collection with L.A. through the pandemic-shortened marketing campaign whereas pitching out of the bullpen through the postseason however returned to the rotation in 2021.

Sadly, he made it simply 5 begins into the 2021 marketing campaign earlier than present process Tommy John surgical procedure and has not put collectively a wire-to-wire large league season since. Whereas the right-hander has pitched to a formidable 3.21 ERA and three.59 FIP because the begin of the 2021 marketing campaign, he’s additionally been restricted to simply 101 innings throughout 20 begins throughout that point by the aforementioned Tommy John and a flexor tendon process he underwent in final July. It’s not clear whether or not the Dodgers hope to return Could to the rotation upon his return to motion or if he’ll be ticketed for the bullpen, but when wholesome he figures to be an impactful arm for the membership in no matter function he takes on.

As for Graterol, the 25-year-old hurler has been one of many membership’s most dependable relievers since he was acquired from the Twins previous to the 2020 season. In 173 2/3 innings of labor for the membership since then, Graterol has pitched to an distinctive 2.69 ERA with a 3.24 FIP. He’s struck out simply 18.9% of batters confronted throughout that point however has generated a rare 62.5% groundball price as a Dodger whereas limiting free passes to only a 5.5% price. Graterol figured to as soon as once more issue into the membership’s high-leverage plans behind the bullpen this yr till these plans had been scuttled by a shoulder harm throughout Spring Coaching that finally led the membership to shut the righty down in late April. Ought to he return earlier than the top of the season, he’d probably return to the again of the membership’s bullpen alongside nearer Evan Phillips.