Thursday, April 25, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
This season, pitching will determine how the Los Angeles Dodgers will do. Everybody expects the Dodgers to be in the World Series.
Brusdar Graterol was supposed to be a key component of the Dodger bullpen in the 2024 season, but he hasn’t thrown a pitch yet. Graterol has shoulder inflammation. While the Los Angeles Dodgers expected to have Graterol in mid-May, his shoulder inflammation hasn’t disappeared.
The Dodgers don’t know when Graterol will return. So far, the Dodger bullpen has struggled though the relievers have worked the most in the major leagues. The Dodgers, like most teams, have starting pitching problems.
The Dodgers have an entire starting rotation on the IL. Going with a less talented starters has made Dave Roberts use the bullpen more.
Tyler Glasnow has been fantastic. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been good after his first start in Seoul, South Korea. Gavin Stone, Bobby Miller, and James Paxton have been inconsistent. Miller has been on the IL since his start in Minnesota. With their desire of giving their starting pitchers an extra day of rest, the Dodgers have had many bullpen games.
Landon Knack has been phenomenal in his first two starts in the major leagues.
Besides Evan Phillips and Daniel Hudson, the Dodger bullpen has been inconsistent. Lately, the relievers have improved.
Besides Graterol, the Dodgers have both Blake Treinen and Emmet Sheehan haven’t been able to throw a pitch during the 2024 regular season. Treinen looked excellent during spring training despite missing almost two years with a shoulder injury. He was struck in the ribs by a line drive. He suffered a bruised lung. The Dodgers expected Treinen to return quickly, but his symptoms have lingered.
This week Treinen made a rehab appearance with Oklahoma City, but it didn’t go well. The Dodgers hope Treinen can return soon and be effective.
Sheehan was a breath of fresh air in the 2023 season when injuries dismantled the Dodger starting rotation. Like most rookies, Sheehan had his ups and downs. This season, Sheehan might have started in Oklahoma City, but he figured to play a vital role in the rotation if a starter went on the IL. At the first of spring training, the Dodgers shut Sheehan down because of right shoulder inflammation. A couple of times, they attempted to Sheehan begin a throwing program, but Sheehan’s right shoulder inflammation hasn’t disappeared. No one knows when or if Sheehan will be able to pitch for the Dodgers.
Soon, the Dodgers will have Walker Buehler. They hope Buehler will be good, but during his rehab assignment, he struggled at times. In August 2022, Buehler underwent his second Tommy John surgery. Buehler tried to return in the 2023 season but couldn’t since he wasn’t bouncing back after an outing. This spring, Buehler’s control didn’t impress Dave Roberts. Also, the Dodgers want Buehler to have an innings limit.
Buehler’s throwing program was slow. He hasn’t had good control and velocity has been diminished. No one knows how well Buehler will do.
Ryan Brasier hasn’t performed as he did with the Dodgers in the 2023 season. His slider hasn’t been moving, and his control hasn’t been good. Since Saturday, Brasier has looked like his dominating self.
Since he has been a major leaguer, Joe Kelly’s control will determine his success. Kelly, 36, has the best pure stuff in the Dodger bullpen. If he can locate his pitches in the strike zone, Kelly is dominating.
Alex Vesia is a notoriously slow starter, and this year is no different. Lately, he has been outstanding.
Ryan Yarbrough is an unsung hero of the bullpen. His ability to pitch many innings or a short outing. Yarbrough has saved his fellow relievers from many innings.
Michael Grove has had ups and downs. Lately, Grove has been great.
Dodger pitching is a key to success.
