UPDATE (April 26, 6:00 p.m. PT): Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Hyun-Jin Ryu threw a 30-pitch bullpen session without issue, getting a full mix of pitches over. Ryu is scheduled to throw another bullpen later this week.
The Los Angeles Dodgers opened the 2016 season with 10 players on the disabled list, and have shuffled players on and off the DL in three weeks since. Yasmani Grandal and Howie Kendrick made their respective returns, but Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke both went down with back trouble.
Most recently, Yimi Garcia was placed on the 15-day DL due to right biceps soreness that forced him to be removed during his relief appearance against the Colorado Rockies on April 23. Garcia expressed plenty of concern over the injury, though there appears to have been some improvement.
“It’s more localized in the bicep, it’s not as painful as it was before,” Roberts said on Monday. “That’s progress, but he’s still a few days away from even thinking of picking up a baseball.” In lieu of throwing over the weekend, Garcia received massage therapy.
As for Van Slyke, he continues to make slow but steady progress. “He’s doing a lot of core things. Still no baseball activities, but he’s feeling better,” Roberts said.
“He’s working on breathing and doing a lot things in the training room. As far as activities, still minimal.” Roberts previously conceded Van Slyke’s back injury is more severe than the initial irritation that forced him to the disabled list on April 12.
Brett Anderson, one of the Dodgers’ several rehabbing pitchers, is limited to core work at this time. “He’s still certainly a ways away,” Roberts said. Meanwhile, Hyun-Jin Ryu overcame a groin strain and is scheduled to throw 20 to 25 pitches in a bullpen session on Tuesday.
And lastly, the curious case of Alex Guerrero didn’t gain any clarity on Monday. “He’s still in Glendale. I guess rehabbing, you would think he’s getting better,” Roberts said. “The calendar continues to move forward. I haven’t heard anything as far as a rehab assignment yet.”
Guerrero has an unspecified left knee injury that stems from a sprain he suffered during Spring Training. An MRI on Guerrero’s troublesome knee revealed there was minimal damage, though to this point surgery has not been deemed necessary.
