While the Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten healthier in recent weeks, they are still waiting on several key contributors to return. Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow have been working their way back into the starting rotation, while Will Smith continues to make strides toward rejoining the lineup.
Glasnow has been on the injured list since May 8 due to lower back spasms, and Smith’s stint began June 11 because of neck inflammation. Meanwhile, Ohtani is currently relegated to only batting because of left knee irritation that has prevented him from pitching.
Like Glasnow, Blake Treinen is currently in the midst of a rehab assignment.
Dodgers injuries
Blake Treinen
Treinen joined Single-A Ontario on Saturday night and retired the side in order while collecting two strikeouts in his lone inning of work. Treinen is optimistic with his health and looking forward to helping the Dodgers down the stretch of the season.
Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani threw a bullpen session on Friday for the first time since doing so at Citizens Bank Park on July 22, which was followed by left knee soreness and discomfort in his right bicep. The two-way star utilized all of his pitches and will likely throw at least one more bullpen session before advancing to face hitters.
“Yeah, he came out of it well,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said .”Threw his entire pitch mix. So the next step will be another bullpen, I assume, and then we’ll get him some lives.”
The Dodgers remain confident that Ohtani will pitch again this season, even if in a limited capacity and needing to complete a pseudo rehab assignment like he did last year.
Will Smith
Smith took batting practice on the field Friday, in what represented a first for him as well. Smith is now pain-free in his neck and recently resumed baseball activities.
“Yeah, Will Smith was really good,” Roberts said. “Came out of it well. I think he’s going to do some more stuff today, and probably given it’s Sunday, tomorrow, will be down.”
Smith is expected to begin a rehab assignment shortly and could rejoin the Dodgers in the next two weeks or so. The most probable scenario for a return may be waiting for active rosters to expand on Sept. 1.
Tyler Glasnow
Glasnow is nearing the end of a rehab assignment after striking out eight over 3.2 scoreless for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday. The Dodgers are planning for him to make one more Minor League start, with targets of five innings and 75 pitches.
“He’s going to have one more outing. It was a good one yesterday, and so I think our thought is he’s going to do another one, five and 75, and then he’ll join us.”
If all goes well, Roberts indicated that Glasnow could rejoin the Dodgers for their upcoming series against the Atlanta Braves from Aug. 25-27.
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