Below are the LAD pitchers who have either started and/or subsequently placed on the IL before the start of the season. I have divided the pitchers into 3 groups: Pitchers who started the season on the IL, starting pitchers being placed on the IL during the season, and relievers being placed on the IL during the season.
- Tony Gonsolin (current baseball age 30) – TJ surgery September 11, 2023
- Dustin May (27) – Right flexor pronator strain surgery and TJ surgery clean up, July 18, 2023. Season ended with esophageal surgery.
- Walker Buehler (29) – 2nd TJ Surgery, August 23, 2022. Activated May 6, 2024. Back on IL on June 19, 2024, with right hip inflammation.
- Nick Frasso (25) – Shoulder labrum tear surgery November 23, 2023. Reported as relatively minor, but then again that is the Dodgers reporting. When I read labrum surgery, I harken back to the long rehabs of both Hyun-jin Ryu and Julio Urías.
- Clayton Kershaw (36) – Glenohumeral ligaments and capsule surgery, November 3, 2023. Activated July 25, 2024. Back on IL on August 31, 2024, with left big toe bone spur.
- Tyler Glasnow (30) – Lower back tightness July 9, 2024, and 2nd IL with elbow tendinitis on August 16, 2024.
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (25) – Rotator cuff strain June 16, 2024, on IL July 13, 2024. Activate September 10, 2024.
- Bobby Miller (25) – Right shoulder inflammation, April 10, 2024, activated June 19, 2024.
- Gavin Stone (25) – Right shoulder inflammation, September 6, 2024.
- Kyle Hurt (26) – Right shoulder inflammation, April 20, 2024. 2nd IL stint due to elbow injury, July 26. Hurt had TJ surgery July 30, 2024.
- River Ryan (25) – Ryan suffered a UCL strain in a start against Pittsburgh on Aug. 11. Had TJ surgery, August 25, 2024.
- Emmet Sheehan (24) – IL on March 19, 2024 (general fatigue, shoulder, and finally elbow). TJ surgery May 15, 2024.
- Connor Brogdon (29) – Right plantar fasciitis, April 10, 2024.
- Brusdar Graterol (25) – March 19, 2024, with right shoulder inflammation. 2nd IL August 7, 2024, hamstring.
- Joe Kelly (36) – May 6, 2024, right shoulder posterior shoulder strain. Activated July 19, 2024, and went on 2nd IL on August 31, 2024, with right shoulder inflammation.
- Blake Treinen (36) – March 19, 2024, with fractured ribs from ground ball. Activated May 5, 2024. 2nd IL on August 5, 2024, with left hip discomfort.
Bolded pitchers still remain on the IL (11).
Dustin May first TJ surgery was May 11, 2021.
“I wouldn’t say that I ever felt more than probably 75 percent. It hurt every throw. Everybody always says it always hurts (after Tommy John surgery) and then one day it just clicks. I was waiting for that. Mine – instead of getting better, it kept getting worse and getting worse. It kept climbing in the wrong direction.”
— Dustin May, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group
That is 16 pitchers on the IL at some point in 2024. Some had two IL stints. Including Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Walker Buehler, Dodger pitchers had seven elbow injuries, including 6 TJ surgeries and 1 right flexor pronator strain surgery; 9 shoulder injuries including 2 shoulder surgeries; 2 hip injuries, and varied individual injuries including plantar fasciitis, big toe, broken ribs, hamstring, and back strain.
Of course the Dodgers are not the only team to suffer significant pitching injuries, but no team has suffered injuries to 16 pitchers. Why have the Dodgers suffered more than other teams? Dodgers management have stated they are looking into possible reasons for their abnormally large number of injuries. How serious are they in their research?
Max velo and enhanced spin rate are reported as the primary reasons for the increase in injuries. The Dodgers are at the forefront for looking for velo and spin, and I would presume (correctly or incorrectly) that they are not going to alter their focus. Are they going to continue to overdraft pitchers to facilitate necessary depth, anticipating injuries? Are they going to continue draft pitchers with significant injuries as they have the last two drafts?
Some have pointed to the use of the pitch clock. River Ryan hinted at that being a factor. Some have speculated that it is partially due to the loss of sticky stuff. Regardless, there are a myriad of reasons that the Dodgers, and to some degree MLB, are looking into. How much MLB is concerned is not known. It is going to be the MLBPA that will need to lead the study on behalf of MLB. Somebody needs to protect the pitchers. MLB is not nearly as concerned with the pitchers as they are in shortening the game.
I will not hazard to guess as to what the Dodgers will do in the offseason with respect to pitching while they are in the middle of a pennant race. But there will be changes to both the rotation and bullpen, and I will have fun speculating.
I do not know if it has been reported here or not, but Corey Seager’s season is over. He is going to have sports hernia surgery. This will be his 2nd this year. Earlier he had the surgery for the left side. This time it will be on the right side.
Seager continues to have significant injuries. Perhaps AF thought about this before he offered Seager 10 years at $330MM to $350MM.
20 year old LHP Jackson Ferris just pitched his 7th AA start. He went 5.0 IP, 1 hit, 1 BB, and 5 K. For his 7 AA games, Ferris has completed 28.1 IP with an impressive 2.54 ERA. Like most LAD pitchers, his control is lacking. He has 4 HBP and 14 BB in those 28.1 IP, along with 26 K.
Ferris has 126.1 IP thus far in 2024. Thursday’s start will be his final outing of the season. He will start out at AA, but should make AAA at some point as a 21 year old. He could be on a fast track to MLB for 2025. I do not think AF/BG will hesitate to promote Ferris if needed.
The big question is will his shoulder be an issue or is he a TJ surgery in waiting, like so many who have gone before.
If you read only one tweet comparing Kack and Miller’s FB today, it HAS TO BE this one:
https://x.com/brownsonjacob2/status/1834341578690945265?s=46
Friday’s game is on Apple+.
Ferris could be better than Buehler
Changing the subject a bit. Dave Roberts and Betts apparently whining about it is not as fun with all these World Series expectations. Who created those expectations? I said way back Robert’s should shut his mouth about “World Series or busts” It’s embarrassing for him to keep saying it when they haven’t gotten out of the first round the past 2 years. He could change the psychological narrative if he would just say we are underdogs until we prove different. It’s arrogant to act like we are the favorites. Just prove it and then talk. Mb then they would have more fun.
concerning the GOATs post. Now we know why but what are the chess players doing about it. Whatever it is not helping Bobby Miller.
The weather in Atl the next 4 days has the rain forecast as 70% today, 80% Saturday, 60% Sunday, and 50% Monday.
This could get really ugly if the games keep starting and stopping and we have to use 10 bullpen guys per day (granted we’re kind of used to it).
What is going on today?
We have posts on injuries, complaints about analytics and streaming rights and worries about the weather!
Life is amazing, the Dodgers are near the top of MLB!
Cheer up! Enjoy life!
I’m no doctor of physical therapist and I’ve never had a bone spur. But a couple of things about Kershaw’s Big Toe, interest me.
1) if he’s had that problem for awhile, why wasn’t it addressed when he was on his long rehab from his shoulder surgery. Maybe it didn’t hurt while he wasn’t pitching but it had obviously hurt before.
2) How long does it take for modern treatment to ease the pain? Shots in the toe, pain relievers, anti inflammatories, and all the modern toys can’t get him back on the mound?
I don’t want him to pitch injured risking arm injuries but day-to-day has become week-to-week with no end date.
So do you want the good news first or the bad news first?
Bad news: Glasnow was supposed to throw a sim game today. Warmed up in the bullpen and went straight to the clubhouse.
Good news (and yes, I know you don’t believe this Bear): Doc says there is a possibility that Shohei might pitch in the playoffs, depending upon how his rehab goes. So far it’s going well, supposedly. Also keep in mind that Shohei may be our only healthy pitcher by October so may have to be the starter for every game.
Doc did say it was far more likely that Ohtani would be used in relief than as a starter.
Glasnow felt discomfort in his elbow while warming up for his sim game today.
https://www.truebluela.com/2024/9/13/24244182/tyler-glasnow-elbow-discomfort-dodgers
Not looking good. You can almost feel TJ surgery on the horizon.
Would be a huge blow to the Dodgers WS hopes.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Base hit my ass. That was another error on Muncy. Should have been a double play.
I sure wish the rain forecast was more accurate.
Not an auspicious start.
Ward hit a 3-run homer in the first inning for OKC. His 30th of the year.