Thursday, May 1, 2025
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025
Since the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen has hurled the most innings in the major leagues by far in the 2025 regular season, The Dodgers claimed F.P. Feyereisen off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks, and they acquired Ryan Loutos from the Saint Louis Cardinals for cash considerations. The Dodgers transferred Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen to the 60-day IL. The Dodgers hope Feyereisen and Loutos will give the Dodgers’ relievers a break during the long marathon called the 2025 Major League season.
The Dodgers already suffered two shoulder injuries to the starting rotation, and they don’t know when Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow will return to the rotation. Especially with Glasnow, the Dodgers used many relievers in Glasnow’s abbreviated starts. Since they want to keep both Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki on their once-a-week pitching time, they have been forced to use bullpen games. This isn’t sustainable for the whole season.
Since the Dodgers lost Glasnow, they found out Ben Casparius can be a good starter. He saved the bullpen on Sunday when Glasnow lasted only one inning. The Dodgers plan to make Casparius a starter, meaning that they are going to lose one of their most dependable relievers.
Evan Phillips just returned from the IL after having a torn rotator cuff and has been used five times since he came off the IL on April 19th. While Phillips has performed expertly, the Dodgers don’t want to use him this much.
Right-hander Feyereisen pitched in 10 games for the 2024 Dodgers and had an 8.18 ERA. This year, he has appeared in 2 games with the Diamondbacks with a 9.00 ERA. While Feyereisen hasn’t performed well, he is a healthy reliever who can pitch.
At 26, Loutos is a right-hander with a sweeper. He can add to the Dodgers’ pitching depth that has already been tested.
Kopech has a right shoulder infringement and hasn’t pitched in the 2025 season. Currently, he is expected to face hitters for the first time this season, and he will need to have a rehabilitation assignment to build up his arm strength before he can rejoin the Dodgers’ bullpen. Since he has been on the IL for the entire season, being on the 60-day IL shouldn’t delay his return to the active roster.
Last week, the Dodgers put Blake Treinen on the IL with a forearm sprain. Any pitcher with a forearm sprain will need time to heal, even before he can throw. Treinen won’t be ready to return to a major league mound before the All-Star break, so putting him on the 60-day IL makes perfect sense.
If the Dodgers can’t stop using their bullpen, they will have a hard time in October.
