The Los Angeles Dodgers have less than two weeks remaining before they host their first playoff game at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 11, but they still have multiple key pitchers on the 15-day injured list, including Blake Treinen, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin.
However, all threw pitchers threw on Friday with encouraging results, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. Treinen was only able to play catch while May and Gonsolin both threw bullpen sessions.
“Blake’s catch play went well,” Roberts said. “Got up to 120 (feet). I don’t know when he’s going to throw a ‘pen, should be here in the next few days, couple, two to three days.
“Dustin had a really good ‘pen. Right around 15 to 16 pitches and used his entire pitch mix. And he’ll throw another one, more extensive one on Sunday. And then at that point in time, he’ll be ready for that following week of facing some hitters.”
Roberts said the Dodgers are looking for May to show he’s healthy with the same intensity he had before he suffered his lower back injury. But so far, the early results are making Roberts confident May will be ready for the National League Division Series.
“If we hadn’t known what he’s gone through this last week, we wouldn’t have known any different,” Roberts said. “So that was a good thing.”
For Gonsolin, he was able to throw a little more than 30 pitches during his bullpen session, and it was “really sharp,” according to Roberts. He is scheduled to start for the Dodgers on Monday against the Colorado Rockies.
Treinen is still the furthest away from his return, but he is at least on the right track to potentially be available for the start of the postseason. “I think each passing day is beneficial to Blake,” Roberts said.
“I’m still hopeful for the DS, but I think we’ll kind of go from there. And hopefully, he’ll be there to see it through.”
While Roberts is hopeful to get his star reliever back, he is not confident about it happening. “I tell my players all the time, hope is a bad strategy,” he said. “But I’m using it right now.”
Dustin May ‘completely confident’ of being on Dodgers roster for NLDS
May also expressed the same belief as Roberts, saying he fully believes he will be ready to go once the NLDS begins.
May is first eligible to be activated on Oct. 6, one day after the Dodgers’ final regular season game. He will be limited when he returns, and a postseason role is contingent on when he is fully able to pitch again. “But if he’s healthy, then it’s still a weapon,” Roberts noted.
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