The Los Angeles Dodgers had visions of being able to rely on Daniel Hudson and Blake Treinen down the stretch of the 2023 season and into October, but that likelihood has all but officially been ruled out.
Treinen’s rehab assignment was brought to an end due to lingering trouble with his right shoulder, and Hudson is still on the mend from a medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain in his right knee.
After missing the second half of the 2022 season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), Hudson pitched in just three games before the MCL sprain. At the time, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the veteran reliever faced long odds to return this season.
Like with Yency Almonte, whether or not Hudson gets an opportunity to pitch again in 2023 is going to hinge on how the Dodgers fare in the postseason.
“I think Huddy is in that same bucket with Almonte, that the CS is the most in-play series for the foreseeable future.”
Despite the long-term outlook, Hudson is expected to travel with the Dodgers for their seven-game road trip that concludes the regular season.
Hudson faced hitters in a live batting practice session last week and is expected to do so again either at Coors Field or Oracle Park.
Dodgers prioritizing health with Daniel Hudson
Although the Dodgers’ starting rotation and pitching staff for the postseason is not set, the team has a bevy of right-handers to choose from even without Almonte, Hudson and Treinen being part of the equation. Michael Grove was just activated off the 15-day injured list and is a candidate to round out the bullpen.
Furthermore, acquisitions of Ryan Brasier and Joe Kelly throughout the season are also a factor in the Dodgers being covered in terms of right-handed relief pitchers, but the bigger focus is Almonte and Hudson getting healthy.
“I think in these two particular cases it’s more about their health,” Roberts said. “Yeah, because there’s a certain level of performance from other guys we have healthy, but the fact of the matter is they’re just not healthy enough to pitch right now or be who they are capable of being.”
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