A shaky Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen faced a new hurdle earlier this month when Kenley Jansen was unavailable for a game at Coors Field, then landed on the 10-day disabled list the following day because of an irregular heartbeat.
A report suggested Jansen would miss a minimum of one month and possibly up to six weeks. The Dodgers did not offer public confirmation, but president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman conceded it was plausible the All-Star closer wouldn’t return until September.
That appeared to be a daunting reality as the Dodgers bullpen either failed to protect a lead or keep games tied. Mounting losses were proving to be critical in a tight National League West race.
After a follow-up appointment with cardiologist, Jansen was cleared to be activated and immediately pitch. The results have not been what the Dodgers anticipated.
On Wednesday, Jansen surrendered a game-winning home run in the top of the ninth inning. A cutter to Paul DeJong lacked movement and remained over the heart of the plate. It was the third homer Jansen allowed in 1.1 innings since coming off the DL.
Following the loss, he explained trouble and frustration that’s come about with throwing his signature cutter, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“Sometimes you’ve just got to go through it. No excuse. Feeling good or not feeling good, no excuse. Just have to go out there and tough it out. … I’m just going to go out there and keep battling. … The velocity doesn’t matter. My two-seamer, it’s going to be higher. It’s just the cutter. That’s the pitch that’s frustrating me the most right now. I’m not getting it where I want to get it; movement, it’s hanging. It’s one thing for me to figure it out.”
Los Angeles went 4-6 without Jansen, and are 0-3 since he returned. Before his past two appearances, Jansen had allowed six home runs in 54.1 innings pitched this season.
Although some may continue to question whether Jansen returned from the heart trouble prematurely, he remained adamant that was not the case and that health would not be used as any sort of excuse. Like others in the clubhouse, the 30-year-old said it’s simply a matter of improving.
Particularly now, with the Dodgers 4.5 games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place in the NL West.
