The Los Angeles Dodgers addressed their bullpen last month by reacquiring Joe Kelly in a trade with the Chicago White Sox that also included Lance Lynn.
Kelly collected seven strikeouts in 3.2 scoreless innings across four appearances with the Dodgers before he was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right forearm inflammation.
Kelly threw a bullpen session earlier this month and was eligible to be activated on August 25, but does not appear to be close to rejoining the team.
Manager Dave Roberts said Kelly is still dealing with right elbow pain but should return in time for the postseason, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Joe Kelly, meanwhile, is still experiencing elbow pain after throwing a bullpen session recently. Roberts said Kelly will not join the Dodgers during their upcoming homestand but is still expected to return in time for the postseason.
“Is there a chance he’s not gonna be 100 percent? Yes,” Roberts said. “But is there a chance he’s not gonna come back? No.”
The IL stint is Kelly’s third of the season, as he missed time in April because of a right groin strain, and 16 days in July with elbow trouble prior to being traded to the Dodgers.
The right-hander last pitched on August 9, earning a hold in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite his overall struggles this year, Roberts has trusted Kelly in high-leverage situations as two of his four appearances with the Dodgers have come in the seventh inning or later.
Overall this season, the 35-year-old is a combined 2-5 with a 4.41 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 35 appearances for the White Sox and Dodgers.
Joe Kelly surprised Dodgers clubhouse
After being traded to the Dodgers, Kelly boarded an early-morning flight for his return to the Dodgers and surprised clubhouse staff members with In-N-Out.
“I didn’t have breakfast,” Kelly said. “Had an early flight, running off of four hours of sleep. Didn’t want the breakfast on the plane, obviously, so landed, got here and asked Alex (Torres, home clubhouse manager) if I could borrow his car because I was going to go to In-N-Out.
“I asked him what I should get, and he said a bunch of burgers. So I brought back a ton of burgers. The team is going to be mad, but they weren’t here. So obviously I brought it back for the clubhouse staff.”
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