Despite reportedly having multiyear offers during the offseason, left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson accepted the Los Angeles Dodgers’ one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer. Coming off a successful 2015 campaign, Anderson was in essence betting on himself to once again remain healthy.
It was a calculated risk as the group of free-agent starters after the 2016 season won’t be nearly as deep as it was last winter. The decision backfired as Anderson has yet to throw a pitch this season after undergoing back surgery in March.
His recovery slowly built up to playing catch and most recently, throwing bullpen sessions. “Brett has been throwing ‘pens and feels good coming out of them,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Wednesday.
“In the last couple of weeks he’s really shown some vast improvement, so he’s really encouraged. Being back here some time in the middle of August is pretty realistic.”
Last season Anderson went 10-9 over 31 starts with a 3.69 ERA, 3.94 FIP and 1.33 WHIP. He led the Majors with a 66.3 ground ball percentage, while setting new career highs in starts (31) and innings pitched (180.1).
The Dodgers have managed with a depleted pitching staff through the first three months of the season but have finally hit the stage where reinforcements are arriving. Mike Bolsinger, once the fifth starter, returned from an oblique injury.
Though, he struggled with the Dodgers and now is serving as a relief pitcher for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Brandon McCarthy made his first start on Sunday, firing five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.
Hyun-Jin Ryu is slated to make his 2016 debut on Thursday in his first Major League start since Game 3 of the 2014 National League Division Series. Of course, the Dodgers are currently without ace Clayton Kershaw.
However, he’s begun to play catch and is said to be recovering ahead of schedule. The Dodgers have not yet released a timeline for his return.
