The Los Angeles Dodgers have one of the most effective bullpens in baseball and they will soon get multiple reinforcements to strengthen it even more, but there have been hiccups with Yency Almonte and Brusdar Graterol.
Almonte was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow tightness in the beginning of August and the expectation was he wouldn’t be out long term. During his time on the IL, Almonte continued throwing, but his recovery has taken longer than the club anticipated.
“Yency is progressing,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “[Thursday] was off, he’ll throw the next few days in a row. I think he’s out to about 121, 150 (feet). I can’t get too excited until we see him off the mound.
“I think it certainly has taken longer than we all had hoped. He’s certainly missed. So just kind of where he’s at, not off a mound, where we’re at on the calendar, the hope is second week of September, probably at the soonest.”
Almonte has one save and pitched to a 1.15 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 0.89 WHIP, 8.62 strikeouts per nine and 2.87 walks per nine over 29 games for the Dodgers this season.
Meanwhile, Roberts also added that Brusdar Graterol is “progressing” in his rehab, but some unforeseen circumstances created a delay in his return to the club.
“Brusdar was rained out [Thursday], so he’ll pitch again [Friday],” Roberts said. “I think Monday is his activation now because he got pushed back.”
Graterol has been out since July 11 due to right shoulder inflammation. The right-hander has thrown 40.1 innings this season with a 3.35 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 0.97 WHIP, 7.81 strikeouts per nine and 2.23 walks per nine.
Dustin May returning Dodgers rotation with changeup
Dustin May is ready to make his long-awaited season debut when the Dodgers activate him off the 60-day injured list on Saturday to face the Miami Marlins.
Although May only made five starts last season, he looked like one of their best pitchers, posting a 2.74 ERA, 3.30 FIP and 0.96 WHIP.
While it’s hard to imagine May being much more effective than he was last season, especially as he returns from Tommy John surgery, he continued working to improve during his rehab by adding a new changeup to his repertoire.
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