Although Tony Gonsolin was placed on the 15-day injured list because of a right forearm strain, he and the Los Angeles Dodgers expressed confidence there would be a quick return.
Gonsolin’s IL stint began Aug. 29, but was backdated three days prior. That made last weekend the earliest he could be activated, and although initial indications were Gonsolin would only miss the minimum required time, he’s been mired in a slow-than-expected recovery process.
Gonsolin did advance to throwing a second bullpen session that left Dodgers manager Dave Roberts encouraged as he tries to overcome lingering soreness.
But with only three weeks remaining in the regular season and a return date unclear, Roberts acknowledged what role Gonsolin may fill in the postseason is unclear, via SportsNet LA:
“I think kind of the theme of our pitching staff as we look out, is having the sum be better than the individual parts in the sense of getting 27 outs in games in a postseason. So I don’t know how it’s going to look for Tony as far as potential buildup or workload. But I do feel that he’s going to be able to contribute in some capacity, which I know is most important to him. … “My messaging to Tony was let’s come out with a net positive each day. If we can continue to do that, once we get closer we’ll know what we have. For me to speculate what it looks like is just not fair right now.”
The Dodgers have not decided — or publicly disclosed — if the next step for Gonsolin would be a third bullpen session or facing batters. The general progression suggests he should next participate in a simulated game, like Yency Almonte did this week at Chase Field.
If there is one silver lining for Gonsolin and the Dodgers, an MRI on his forearm did not reveal a more significant injury. “I do know that it was as good as we could have hoped,” Roberts said at the time.
Gonsolin is tied for second in the National League in wins (16), and would lead in ERA (2.10), WHIP (0.86) and batting average against (.169), but no longer has enough innings pitched to appear on qualified leaderboards.
Postseason role possibilities for Tony Gonsolin
If Gonsolin is unable to stretch out to a full starter’s workload in time for the playoffs, he conceivably could still fill an opener role and go three or four innings. The Dodgers could also shift the 28-year-old to the bullpen, but he struggled pitching in relief during the 2020 postseason.
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