The Los Angeles Dodgers are closing in on clinching home-field advantage throughout the 2022 World Series and they’ll soon be getting two key reinforcements in their bullpen.
Blake Treinen (right shoulder soreness) and Brusdar Graterol (right elbow inflammation) are both on the 15-day injured list but have been making progress toward respective returns. On Monday, the pair threw in a simulated game to batters and looked good in their session, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
“I think I recall hearing that Blake touched 97 (mph), Brusdar touched 99,” Roberts said. “So you’re talking about a sim game, the stuff is there. Right now, if Blake comes out of it OK, which I assume he has, Thursday activation is very likely. And for Brusdar potentially shortly thereafter.”
Treinen is first eligible to come off the IL on Thursday, while Graterol can already be reinstated.
Once Treinen returns, he should work his way back into a high-leverage role as the club prepares for October. However, don’t expect Treinen to immediately return in his usual fireman role or any multi-inning appearances.
“I think with Blake, it’ll be a cleaning inning,” Roberts said. “There won’t be an up-down. And that’s kind of where we’ll start, and then we’ll go from there.”
Treinen has appeared in five games this season, pitching to a 1.80 ERA and 0.40 WHIP over five innings. Graterol has posted a 3.02 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across 41 appearances this season.
In addition to Treinen and Graterol, Yency Almonte is set to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City this week.
If all are able to return, the Dodgers will soon need to make difficult decisions on who to include on their postseason roster.
Dodgers starting Michael Grove, Tyler Anderson in doubleheader
Michael Grove will start the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks while Tyler Anderson is scheduled to return to the Dodgers roster from paternity leave to take the mound in the nightcap.
Ryan Pepiot was with the Dodgers on Monday and is expected to get recalled as the permitted 29th player for the first game of the doubleheader.
Pepiot has already been optioned to the Minors five times, which is the maximum for one season as part of MLB roster rules, but getting sent back down after being added as an extra player on the day of a doubleheader does not count against the limit.
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