The Los Angeles Dodgers opened Spring Training this year with a tremendous amount of starting pitching depth, which numbers-wise left them capable of filling two rotation’s worth. That depth has already been put to the test as left-hander Scott Kazmir missed his last start with a hip injury.
One injury certainly won’t completely undo the rotation, but the Dodgers would like to avoid a recurrence of last season when a rash of injuries to the pitching staff forced the team to start four rookie pitchers in four consecutive games.
The latest to go down with an injury this spring is right-hander Brock Stewart, as he is being shut down for at least one week because of shoulder tendinitis, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
RHP Brock Stewart said he's shut down for a week with shoulder tendinitis.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 12, 2017
Roberts said Stewart will do strengthening exercises while shut down with shoulder tendinitis. Unlikely to be ready to start by early April.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 12, 2017
While Stewart now appears unlikely to remain part of the conversation for the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation, he already was somewhat of a longshot.
After an outstanding 2016 season, Stewart had gotten off to a rough start this spring. In two games (both relief appearances) he allowed five hits and seven runs in 3.1 innings of work.
Stewart began last season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga, quickly climbed the Minor League ladder and made his MLB debut on June 29. In seven games (five starts) with the Dodgers, he was 2-2 with a 5.79 ERA, 5.90 FIP and 1.61 WHIP in 28 innings.
Stewart dominated in the Minors, pitching to a combined 1.79 ERA in 121 innings across three levels.
With Stewart and Ross Stripling both struggling this spring, and Julio Urias a candidate to begin the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City to limit his innings, Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Wood are left to battle for the final two spots in the rotation.
