Monday, April 21, 2025
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025
On Monday, though the Los Angeles Dodgers have an off day in Chicago, the Dodgers have news. After going on the IL on Saturday, the right-handed reliever has a forearm sprain.
While Treinen isn’t expected to have surgery, he will miss a significant amount of time. Turning 37 in June, Treinen was an important part of the 2024 Dodger World Championship. Pitching in practically every game during the 2024 postseason, Treinen hurled 2.1 innings in Game 6 of the World Series. It could have been argued that Treinen deserved to be the co-MVP with Freddie Freeman of the 2024 World Series.
The majority of pitchers with a forearm sprain eventually need Tommy John surgery. Since Treinen is an older pitcher, the likelihood of returning from Tommy John surgery is slim. The Dodgers needed to have Treinen in their bullpen.
While the Dodgers stocked up on relievers during the offseason, they needed Treinen. Since the 2025 season began, the bullpen has pitched the most innings (96.2) in the major leagues. This can’t continue since the Dodgers want to repeat as World Champions. The emergence of Ben Casparius and Jack Dreyer has saved the bullpen.
The news about Blake Snell isn’t good. While the Dodgers overprotect their starters to avoid long-term injuries, Snell has a troublesome left shoulder. He will miss more than two starts. He can throw without pain, but he wakes up with shoulder pain. Snell might need a rehabilitation assignment to return to the Dodger starting rotation.
Tony Gonsolin is on a rehab assignment after he injured his back while lifting weights at the end of spring training. He can fill in for Snell. This is fantastic since the Dodgers’ spot starters, Landon Knack, Bobby Miller, and Justin Wrobleski, were lousy. The Dodgers need good spot starters if they can’t have a regular starting rotation. Clayton Kershaw is on a rehabilitation assignment and should be back in a month. Shohei Ohtani is being slowed played during his rehabilitation process to get on the mound as a starter. Since Ohtani is the best Dodger hitter, the Dodgers can’t send him on a rehabilitation assignment. No one knows how to build Ohtani up as a starting pitcher. If they do it on the major league level, it will put more stress on the already overused bullpen, something that the Dodgers don’t need.
The Dodgers have had great pitching staff that has been carrying the team while the offense struggles. The Dodger offense must wake up or won’t be going to the postseason.
