The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to activate Tommy Edman off the 60-day injured list Wednesday but otherwise remain without several key contributors.
Among them is Tyler Glasnow, who is currently shut down amid a stalled recovery from back spasms. It’s not clear when Glasnow will resume playing catch, much less return to the rotation.
Meanwhile, Dodgers manager otherwise shared encouraging updates on the likes of Edwin Díaz, Kiké Hernández, Teoscar Hernández and Blake Snell.
Dodgers injury updates
Edwin Díaz
Díaz, who underwent surgery on April 22 to remove loose bodies from his right elbow, is continuing to make steady progress in his recovery.
“Edwin is coming along really well. He’s been playing catch. He should be throwing a bullpen here this week,” Roberts said. “So he is coming along really well, quickly. Don’t know time of return, but everything, it’s coming out pretty hot. So he feels pretty good.
“He’s got the bullpen, the lives, and then the rehab, but hopefully we keep trending that right direction.”
The Dodgers have not offered much of a set timeline for Díaz to return, only pointing to some point in the second half of the season. Given the progress he’s made thus far, Roberts did not want to fully rule out activating Díaz before the All-Star break but believes that still is a stretch.
“I would say anything’s possible, but probably unlikely. But again, until he starts doing the lives, and then we start seeing really how it looks, then I think we get a better idea,” Roberts said.
Kiké Hernández
A delayed, albeit electric, start to the season ended after just four plate appearances over two games because of a right oblique strain Kiké Hernández suffered in batting practice. He was seen playing catch at Dodger Stadium before Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
“Kike is making a lot of strides, doing some baseball activity, moving around, feels good,” Roberts said. “Still, obviously going to take some time with what he’s gone through.”
The initial suggestion was Hernández would need two months to recover from what an MRI revealed to be a significant oblique strain. That general timeline puts him on track to return in late July or early August.
Teoscar Hernández
Teoscar Hernández has been out since May 29 with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.
“You know, from what I understand, I haven’t seen him today, but he’s come along well,” Roberts said on Monday. “Our hope is that he gets out on a rehab and plays a couple games this weekend. … I think the biggest challenge, the strength is there, the foot speed, he’s running 20 miles an hour, or whatever it is, so that’s been really good, recovering well.
“I think just making sure that his swing is back, so we can kind of pick up where we left off. So I think that’s the thing we didn’t do last year. He missed some time and then we kind of just got him back in the lineup, and he just wasn’t right. So just to make sure he’s in a good spot physically, and then his swing is kind of reflective of that.”
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani recently exited early and missed one full game because of left knee inflammation that he attributed to wrong pitching mechanics. He’s now been in the lineup the past three games and remains on track for a pitching start Wednesday.
“As of now, we’re going to remain the same,” Roberts said. “So, yes, as of now, we’re going to move forward, yes.”
Ohtani did not throw a bullpen session on Monday in order to provide his knee with another day of quasi-rest. He’s expected to throw a bullpen on Tuesday.
Blake Snell
Snell also started playing catch since having surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, but there are still plenty of steps ahead until he’s in line for a return.
“Blake’s doing well. Blake’s done really well. Blake has come along really well,” Roberts said. “Not sure when he’s going to face hitters, but that’s obviously down the road. But throwing, playing catch, feels good.”
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