The Los Angeles Dodgers set a season high with six home runs against the Kansas City Royals en route to extending their winning streak to 12 games, but it wasn’t all positive as Andrew Heaney only managed to pitch three innings.
Heaney’s early exit was due to a left arm contusion that stemmed from being hit by a line-drive comebacker in the bottom of the third. Bobby Witt Jr. lined a ball 106.5 mph that struck Heaney in his left arm/shoulder area and kicked away for an infield single.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head athletic trainer Thomas Albert checked on Heaney, who remained in the game and retired the next two batters faced.
Following the 13-3 win, Roberts said he believes Heaney will avoid another stint on the 15-day injured list and start Thursday in the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers, via SportsNet LA:
“I talked to him after he got hit, in between innings, where it was at — bicep — and talking to our head trainer, Thomas, and just kind of my eyes, there wasn’t much reason to send him back out there. He was fighting to stay in, which is a good thing. I expect him to make his next start.”
Because of two separate bouts with left shoulder trouble that required IL stints, Heaney has been limited to just 31 innings over seven starts this season. He has fared well when on the mound, pitching to a 1.16 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.
After returning from his second time on the IL, Heaney set a goal of wanting to settle into a rhythm by way of making more than two starts in a row. He’s now done so four times since being activated July 27.
Dodgers have Heaney on pitch limit
In effort to preserve his health, the Dodgers have placed Heaney on a pitch count and don’t intend to push him for the remainder of the season. Roberts has declined to set a hard limit, but estimated Heaney likely won’t go much beyond 80 pitches.
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