Dodgers Lose Another Top Pitcher

Dodgers Lose Another Top Pitcher

20 May, 2023

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ injury list currently features what would be one of MLB’s top rotations.

The Dodgers announced on Saturday that starting pitcher Julio Uras has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a left hamstring injury, making the southpaw their latest important pitcher to be out. In a related move, reliever Wander Suero was called up.

When Uras last pitched on Thursday, the St. Louis Cardinals pounded him for six earned runs (and four home runs) in three innings.

The depth of Dodgers’ pitching is getting worse.
Uras, Walker Buehler (Tommy John surgery), Dustin May (right forearm strain), Ryan Pepiot (left oblique strain), and Michael Grove (right groin strain) are all currently listed as injured with the Dodgers. In the best of circumstances, the top three pitchers would make up the majority of their rotation.

Blake Treinen (right shoulder), Daniel Hudson (left ACL), Alex Reyes (right labrum), and JP Feyereisen (right shoulder) are also out for the squad, putting them within striking distance of a capable bullpen.

That’s a lot of pitchers to lose, to the point where the Dodgers—a team that has placed more emphasis on pitching depth in the last ten years than any other MLB team—might be close to running out of starting pitchers.

The Dodgers’ rotation now comprises of Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, and Noah Syndergaard with Uras out due to injury. Both Gonsolin and Syndergaard have experienced health problems this year; Gonsolin spent the first few starts of the season on the IL due to an ankle sprain, and Syndergaard struggled mightily with blisters over his last few outings.

As a result, Kershaw, who has started every season since 2015 while sidelined with an injury at least once, is currently their healthiest starter.

What are the Dodgers capable of?

The Dodgers anticipate calling up top-100 prospect Gavin Stone to fill one rotation place as far as immediate reinforcements go. In his MLB debut earlier this season, he gave up five runs (four earned) and eight hits in four innings while striking out just one batter.

The situation just worsens from there. The most fascinating choice is flame-throwing Bobby Miller, another top-100 prospect, but after four starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City this year, he has a 5.65 ERA. After that, we’ll probably speak about Dodger Stadium bullpen games.

Grove was sent on a rehab assignment on Saturday, so the good news is that he might be close to making a comeback. He has made four starts this season, but with an 8.44 ERA, so his presence won’t likely deter the Dodgers from searching for solutions.

The Dodgers still hold the NL West lead with a 29-17 record, but those problems haven’t taken a big toll on them yet. It might be difficult to duplicate that performance over the course of the following 46 games.