Despite being two weeks into their Cactus League schedule, a few notable Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers have yet to appear in a game.
Chief among them is Joe Kelly, who has been battling soreness and potentially some form of injury since playing catch during the first workout for pitchers and catchers.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently revealed that Kelly is still a “ways away” from taking the mound in a game but stopped short of ruling him out for Opening Day.
“I don’t want to say that he won’t be ready for the start of the season,” Roberts said. “I don’t want to say that he will. Right now it’s kind of day-to-day with his throwing program. We still have to see him in Major League games before we can give the green light.
“I think that’s what Joe would expect as well. That’s why I just think right now, where his throwing program is at, when he gets into a game, things have been pushed back. But I just don’t want to put any restrictions or expectations as far as breaking camp with us.”
If Kelly is placed on the 10-day injured list to begin the 2021 season, one pitcher who could benefit is Dennis Santana. He has continued to impress out of the bullpen and is a reliever Roberts said the team trusts to face left- and right-handed batters.
As for Kelly, he is entering the final guaranteed year on his contract, which includes a $12 million club option and $4 million buyout for 2022. His tenure with the Dodgers has produced uneven results and a prior instance of injury.
Kelly missed nearly six weeks last season due to shoulder inflammation and having to serve a five-game suspension for his role in the heated exchange with Carlos Correa and the Astros.
In 12 games, he posted a 1.80 ERA, 3.49 FIP and 1.50 WHIP with nine strikeouts over 10 innings pitched. Kelly made five additional appearances in the postseason, allowing one run across 3.2 innings of work.
Roberts: Brusdar Graterol ahead of Kelly
Another Dodgers pitcher that has yet to get in a Cactus League game is Brusdar Graterol. Unspecified circumstances prevented the right-hander from throwing during the offseason and thus he reported to camp behind other pitchers in that progression.
Graterol, however, could be close to making his first appearance. “Brusdar is ahead of Joe right now,” Roberts recently said. “I think Brusdar is in a pretty good spot although he started a little bit later.”
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