Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts advised reporters (together with Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times) this night that veteran right-hander Blake Treinen is “possible” to be activated off the 15-day injured checklist previous to tomorrow’s sport towards the Braves. A corresponding transfer will likely be mandatory so as to add him to the membership’s lively roster.
Treinen, 36 in June, final pitched within the majors again in 2022 and hasn’t pitched a full season since 2021 resulting from a lot of accidents, together with shoulder surgical procedure. That stated, the veteran loved 4 scoreless appearances in Spring Coaching and appeared set to rejoin the membership’s roster earlier than he was struck by the harm bug as soon as once more. This time, Treinen was hit within the chest by a comebacker and suffered fractured ribs and a bruised lung, although he’s steadily progressed since then and seems to now be poised to return to a serious league mound for the primary time in almost two years.
When wholesome sufficient to take the mound, Treinen has been among the many most dominant relievers within the league since a breakout 2019 season with the A’s that noticed him end sixth in AL Cy Younger award voting after posting a 0.78 ERA with a 1.82 FIP in 80 1/3 innings of labor whereas hanging out 31.7% of batters confronted. His work with the Dodgers since becoming a member of the membership previous to the 2020 season hasn’t been on fairly that otherworldly degree, however he’s nonetheless been a dominant drive behind the membership’s bullpen when wholesome with a 2.45 ERA and three.00 FIP with a 27.6% strikeout charge and a 56.2% groundball charge in 103 innings of labor as a Dodger.
Given these wonderful numbers, it’s maybe not a shock that DiGiovanna relays that Roberts “gained’t hesitate” to make use of the veteran in high-leverage conditions upon his return. Whereas Evan Phillips has locked down the nearer’s function in L.A. with a 0.66 ERA and eight saves in 14 appearances this 12 months, the remainder of the membership’s bullpen has struggled considerably because the reduction corps sports activities a collective FIP of 4.12, higher than solely the Rockies and Reds amongst NL golf equipment. With veteran set-up males Daniel Hudson and Joe Kelly wanting considerably shaky to date this season, it might hardly be a shock to see the membership flip to Treinen to assist strengthen the bridge between the rotation and Phillips.
Elsewhere on the roster, outfielder Jason Heyward is making progress in his rehab from a bout of decrease again tightness that despatched him to the injured checklist simply 4 video games into the 2024 marketing campaign, with Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reporting that the veteran took batting follow right now for the primary time since struggling the harm. Heyward struggled badly on the plate for a few years throughout his ill-fated eight-year contract with the Cubs however revived his profession in L.A. final 12 months, slashing a good .269/.340/.473 in 124 video games because the membership’s common proper fielder.
Heyward appeared poised to man proper area for the membership frequently as soon as once more this 12 months however his function upon his return to motion has turn out to be much less clear because of the breakout of outfield prospect Andy Pages, who had slashed a formidable .333/.354/.567 in 65 journeys to the plate coming into play this night. Assuming the Dodgers need to maintain Pages’s bat within the lineup, Heyward could also be left to compete with the likes of James Outman and Chris Taylor for taking part in time within the membership’s outfield combine.
One other veteran making progress in his rehab is future Corridor of Famer Clayton Kershaw, who JP Hoornstra of Dodgers Nation notes threw a 15-pitch bullpen off the mound yesterday. It was his first time throwing off a mound since he underwent shoulder surgery this previous winter. Hoornstra added that Kershaw’s precise timetable for return just isn’t but recognized, although his said aim of returning to the majors sooner or later this summer season appears to be like very possible given the progress he’s made so far. Kershaw is considered one of a whopping seven beginning pitchers at present on the key league injured checklist with the Dodgers, although the quantity will drop to 6 when right-hander Walker Buehler makes his season debut on Monday when he’ll re-enter the rotation alongside Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, James Paxton, and Gavin Stone.
