Dodgers Face Bullpen Challenges After Brock Stewart Injury
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen is affected by the recent injury of Brock Stewart, who has been placed on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. The team, already dealing with key absences, now faces an even more complicated situation. Andrew Friedman, Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, expressed optimism about Stewart’s prompt recovery, although further evaluations are expected to determine the severity of the injury. Stewart, the only acquisition for the bullpen before the trade deadline, joins a list of high-caliber relievers in recovery.- Evan Phillips
- Brusdar Graterol
- Michael Kopech
- Tanner Scott
- Kirby Yates
Kopech is on track to return before the end of the month, while Scott and Yates could be back in a similar timeframe. Graterol is progressing well in his recovery and is expected to be available for the final stretch of the season. Regarding acquisitions, Stewart and outfielder Alex Call were the only Major League players the Dodgers added before the trade deadline. Friedman and his team considered other options to reinforce the bullpen and the outfield, but they did not finalize the deals due to the requested conditions. The team trusts the current group and its potential for the playoffs. Friedman revealed that Tony Gonsolin underwent a procedure that will prevent him from playing for the rest of the season. The starting rotation, with Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani, remains solid. Clayton Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan are also options, and Roki Sasaki is working on his return from a shoulder injury. The main concern lies in the offensive performance, which is among the worst in the league in runs per game since July, and in the bullpen situation, which continues to be a challenge for the team. Friedman expressed confidence in the pitching staff and their ability to be a strength for the team in the future.“I think we have a very legitimate opportunity to have the most talented pitching staff in October that we’ve ever had,” Friedman said.
Andrew Friedman
