As the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a six-game homestand on Tuesday, Joe Kelly is starting a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Kelly is the starting pitcher for the Quakes and is expected to complete one inning.
Kelly was put on the 15-day injured list May 6 because of a right posterior shoulder strain. The Dodgers initially were hopeful Kelly’s shoulder injury would not cause him to miss an extended amount of time.
However, at the beginning of June, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Kelly still was a minimum of multiple weeks away from returning.
Joe Kelly is scheduled to pitch for the Quakes TONIGHT! Get your tickets at https://t.co/GAZJC4ZbVM!
All #Dodgers appearances are presented by @Yaamava pic.twitter.com/YsXfBCm6Ml
— Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (@RCQuakes) July 2, 2024
The Dodgers then transferred Kelly to the 60-day IL on June 16 as part of multiple roster moves. That in turn made Friday, July 5, the earliest date Kelly became eligible to get activated.
Although it’s encouraging Kelly is beginning a rehab assignment, he’s not expected to return this weekend. Roberts recently suggested that wouldn’t take place until after the All-Star break.
It’s plausible Kelly joining the Quakes for a rehab assignment moves up his timeline to returning before July 14.
After some early trouble season that’s resulted in an inflated ERA, the 36-year-old found a rhythm from late April and into May. Kelly has pitched to a 4.73 ERA, 2.62 FIP and 1.35 WHIP across 15 appearances so far this season.
After declining a team option, the Dodgers re-signed Kelly during the offseason to a one-year, $8 million contract.
Dodgers bullpen without Joe Kelly
In addition to Kelly, the Dodgers gone stretches without the likes of Brusdar Graterol, Evan Phillips, Ryan Brasier and Blake Treinen this year. Graterol has yet to pitch this season and Brasier remains on the 60-day IL as well.
Amid those absences, the Dodgers have received unexpected contributions from fellow right-handers Yohan Ramírez, Nabil Crismatt, Kyle Hurt and Dinelson Lamet. Crismatt and Lamet are no longer part of the organization, while Hurt is with Triple-A Oklahoma City after recently returning from the 60-day injured list.
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