The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the 2022 regular season figuring to heavily lean on Blake Treinen out of the bullpen, and hoping to Andrew Heaney would bounce back from a down year to help fortify the starting rotation.
Treinen had early success as he again filled the fireman role for L.A., and Heaney also pitched well through two starts. However, both pitchers have since had their seasons interrupted by respective right and left shoulder trouble.
Heaney was put on the 10-day injured list on April 20, and Treinen followed two days later. They each have gone a prolonged stretch without being able to begin throwing.
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Treinen will undergo an MRI on his ailing right shoulder:
Blake Treinen is going in for an MRI, Dave Roberts said. His shoulder still isn’t feeling right.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 7, 2022
Meanwhile, Heaney is with the Dodgers for the start of their road trip and should soon begin playing catch in preparation for building back up with a throwing program:
Andrew Heaney is with the club at Wrigley. Dave Roberts said he will start a throwing progression this weekend and play catch.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 7, 2022
Also on the Dodgers pitching staff, Mitch White cleared COVID protocols and has temporarily reported to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he will throw a bullpen session:
Mitch White is throwing a pen today in OKC and has cleared COVID protocols. Building back up now.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 7, 2022
Roberts previously said Heaney and Treinen had their shoulders examined because of the ongoing trouble. Heaney’s revealed left shoulder inflammation, but Roberts said he did not have specifics on Treinen’s injury.
“I don’t know the next time they’ll pick up a ball or be back with us,” Roberts said last week. “I think early on we were hopeful that both guys would be more shorter than longer, but as it’s turned out, both are on the more longer side of things.
“It was more shoulder inflammation on Andrew. On Blake, I know it was shoulder but don’t know the exact diagnosis.”
White has been out since April 30 because of testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). That came five days after David Price tested positive, though the left-hander cleared protocols as well and is traveling with the team — but not yet back on the active roster — for his first visit to Wrigley Field.
How do Dodgers replace Treinen?
In a best-case scenario, the Dodgers would only be without Treinen for another few weeks. But considering he continues to experience shoulder trouble and hasn’t yet resumed throwing, his absence could easily stretch closer to July.
Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips are among those being counted on to help fill the void, and Tommy Kahnle is expected to be part of that equation as well. Though, Roberts said the Dodgers want to first ease Kahnle back into his first Major League action since July 2020.
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