The Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff has been plagued by injuries for much of the 2018 season, with four of the five starters that began the campaign in the rotation and several key relievers all spending time on the disabled list at one point or another.
But as the second half of the season got underway, the Dodgers staff was seemingly the healthiest it has been in months. With Walker Buehler joining the team Wednesday, they currently have a six-man starting rotation.
Additionally, Pedro Baez was reinstated from the 10-day DL. The Dodgers still have a few injured pitchers, however, namely relievers Josh Fields and Tony Cingrani and starter Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Manager Dave Roberts outlined where each is at in their respective recoveries, via Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
Josh Fields (shoulder inflammation) is “still a little bit behind,” while Tony Cingrani (shoulder discomfort) “is moving forward,” Roberts said. Hyun-Jin Ryu (torn groin muscle) could begin a minor league rehab assignment this week.
Fields has been one of the Dodgers’ best relievers this season although he has been sidelined since June 26 with the shoulder issue. In 37 games, Fields has gone 2-2 with a 2.36 ERA, 3.83 FIP and 0.93 WHIP while striking out 28 and walking nine in 34.1 innings.
Cingrani has also been out since the end of June with a shoulder issue, but he hasn’t faced the same hurdles as Fields in his rehab. The left-hander has posted a 4.84 ERA, 2.17 FIP and 1.03 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and only six walks in 22.1 innings this season.
Ryu was off to the best start of a season in his career before going down with a groin injury in April. He went 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA, 3.16 FIP and 0.88 WHIP in six starts. In 29.2 innings, he had 36 strikeouts against 10 free passes.
With the bigger picture in mind, the Dodgers likely won’t rush any of these arms back to ensure that they are 100 percent healthy down the stretch of a potential pennant race. Both Fields and Cingrani were key parts of the Dodgers bullpen in the postseason last year.
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