The Los Angeles Dodgers ended the first half of the season on a high note by taking the four-game series from the San Diego Padres, which gave Los Angeles a seventh victory in their last 10 games.
Despite having dealt with a plethora of injuries to key contributors, the Dodgers lead the Wild Card race and remain in striking distance of the first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West.
The Dodgers pitching staff in particular has been hit the hardest by injuries as seven starters have spent time on the disabled list at some point this season. The latest of which is Clayton Kershaw, who was diagnosed with a mild disc herniation.
While Kershaw advanced in his recovery to throwing a bullpen session on Sunday, when he will return remains unknown. It was recently reported he’d miss four to six weeks with the back injury.
The Dodgers have not publicly released a timetable. As was previously suggested, the left-handed ace will not immediately rejoin the Dodgers’ starting rotation out of the All-Star break, according to Andy McCullough of the LA Times:
Clayton Kershaw will not be in the rotation during the first turn through the break. The second turn? Possible.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) July 10, 2016
While Kershaw’s status remains up in the air, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts otherwise set the rotation, via AM 570 LA Sports Radio DodgerTalk host David Vassegh:
#Dodger rotation to begin 2nd half:
Fri-Bud Norris
Sat-McCarthy
Sun-Maeda
Mon-Off
Tuesday-Kazmir
Wed-Ryu— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) July 10, 2016
Injuries certainly took their toll on the Dodgers’ pitching staff throughout the first half of the season, however, Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu returned within one week of each other. McCarthy is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA after two starts, though Ryu struggled in his 2016 debut.
He was chased in the fifth inning after allowing six runs on eight hits, and faces concerns over velocity.
More good news may soon be coming the team’s way as Alex Wood has progressed ahead of schedule in his recovery from left elbow impingement and is eyeing a return in early August. Meanwhile, it’s plausible Brett Anderson is activated from the 60-day disabled list in mid-August.
Collectively, Dodgers starting pitchers ended the first half with a 3.77 ERA, which ranks seventh-best in the Majors. Los Angeles opens the second half of the 2016 season with a nine-game road trip, beginning with a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
