Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts introduced to reporters that right-hander Gavin Stone continues to be experiencing shoulder soreness and is “most unlikely” to return this yr. Alden González of ESPN was amongst these to relay the information on X.
Stone landed on the IL September 6 resulting from proper shoulder irritation. The plan was for him to be shut down for about ten days, at which level the membership would resolve on a path ahead primarily based on how he felt. Plainly not a lot progress has been made and so the trail again to the membership has narrowed.
Previous to this damage, Stone was probably the most dependable member of a rotation that had suffered a large number of accidents. He tossed 140 1/3 innings over 25 begins, with each of these figures nonetheless main the staff. The one participant near him in these classes is Tyler Glasnow, who can be unlikely to come back again this yr, so Stone will end 2024 because the staff chief in these two classes. He had a 3.53 earned run common in that point in addition to a 20% strikeout fee, 6.4% stroll fee and 44.2% floor ball fee.
The well being of the Dodger rotation, or lack thereof, has been an ongoing story all year long. Dustin Might, River Ryan and Emmet Sheehan every required season-ending surgical procedures earlier within the marketing campaign. As talked about, Stone and Glasnow are each on the IL and unlikely to be wholesome earlier than the season’s accomplished. Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw are additionally on the IL however nonetheless might contribute within the coming weeks. Extra on them under.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto additionally missed about three months resulting from a rotator cuff pressure, although he’s now again on the lively roster. That’s a little bit of optimistic information amid all of the unfavorable stuff, although there are questions there as nicely. Yamamoto returned earlier than being totally stretched out and has solely thrown 4 innings in every of his two outings since coming again. The child gloves are apparently going to remain on, as Roberts mentioned the membership will proceed to provide him greater than 4 days of relaxation between begins for the remainder of the season and possibly into the playoffs as nicely, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Instances on X.
Round Yamamoto, the remainder of the rotation has lately consisted of Jack Flaherty, Landon Knack, Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller. Miller has an 8.52 ERA on the yr and is being optioned right now, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic on X, Miller’s second non-compulsory task of the yr. Buehler has additionally struggled, with a 5.54 ERA on the yr. Knack has a robust 3.70 ERA however in simply 56 profession innings on the main league stage. Flaherty is having an ideal yr however there are some well being issues with him as nicely, as he had again issues with the Tigers that reportedly scuttled a deal to the Yankees earlier than the Dodgers acquired him as an alternative.
Whether or not the Dodgers will change Miller within the rotation or just use bullpen video games to complete the yr stays to be seen. They’re off on Monday, which might maybe assist them get by with simply 4 starters, although Yamamoto’s restrictions complicate issues. The membership is a digital lock for the postseason however the remaining video games on the schedule are nonetheless significant. They’re solely 3.5 video games up on the Padres within the West and solely two video games forward of the Brewers for the second bye by the Wild Card spherical, with the Phillies presently holding the highest spot.
Even when the Dodgers are capable of cruise right into a first-round bye, constructing a playoff rotation goes to be a priority. Maybe Gonsolin or Kershaw might assist out, relying on how issues develop over the subsequent few weeks. Kershaw has been on the IL since late Might resulting from a bone spur ins his left huge toe. He threw an 84-pitch bullpen session right now, per Gonzalez on X, which is maybe a very good signal that he might nonetheless be an element quickly however the subsequent steps aren’t clear.
As for Gonsolin, he underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in September of final yr and is presently on a rehab task. His first outing lasted two innings and the second went 2 2/3. Per Invoice Plunkett of the Orange County Register, Roberts says Gonsolin will attempt to get by 4 innings in his subsequent outing after which the membership will discuss the place to go from there. “It’s nonetheless an extended shot,” Robert mentioned. “However I’m actually impressed that Tony has taken this actually critically as a possible alternative. He’s gonna take one other one, and we’ll see from there.”
There are many shifting elements and the membership nonetheless has an opportunity to have a stable rotation consisting of Yamamoto and Flaherty with maybe some mixture of Knack, Buehler, Kershaw or Gonsolin in behind the entrance two. There even appears to be some non-zero likelihood that Shohei Ohtani takes a mound earlier than the season is finished, although that also looks like an actual lengthy shot.
The membership and its followers know very nicely {that a} flimsy rotation can sink an in any other case sturdy season. Simply final yr, the Dodgers gained 100 video games however had been shortly swept out of the playoffs by the Diamondbacks when accidents decreased their postseason rotation to Miller, Lance Lynn and an obviously-injured Kershaw. That may make their swirling rotation a key storyline within the coming weeks.
