Caleb Ferguson completed more throwing prior to the Los Angeles Dodgers facing the San Diego Padres in the second of their three-game series at Petco Park. It marked Ferguson’s second time doing so since he was placed on the 10-day injured list with an oblique issue.
The next step for Ferguson is to pitch in a simulated game. That was initially considered a possibility this weekend but instead will take place at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday. It’s undecided if that will lead to Ferguson getting activated or if a rehab assignment will be required.
“He’s going to throw to some hitters on Tuesday and then we’ll see where it goes from there,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Roberts added Ferguson’s simulated game being pushed back is not indicative of a setback in his recovery but rather better in line with the team’s schedule. “He’s in a good place right now. He’s getting close,” Roberts said.
Ferguson was placed on the IL as a corresponding roster move to the Dodgers activating Rich Hill for his 2019 debut. At the time, the Dodgers were not yet certain as to the severity of Ferguson’s injury.
It has since been determined the left-hander avoided a tear and significant strain. Roberts alluded to the diagnosis as a ‘best-case scenario.’
Ferguson began the season on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, again filling a role out of the bullpen. He strung together 6.1 scoreless innings over seven appearances before beginning to falter a bit.
Ferguson’s final appearance before landing on the IL was particularly rough as he failed to retire any of the three batters faced and left the Dodgers with a bases-loaded jam.
Roberts wasn’t certain if Ferguson may have been concealing his oblique trouble and therefore not been as effective. What the fourth-year manager did notice was a drop off in mechanics. “I do know there’s an execution component,” Roberts said last week.
“If you look at the radar gun, it’s been very consistent. But then now you kind of layer in execution or mechanics, and that’s where the issues have been for me. He’s got great stuff, good competitor. But when you hit a right-hander with a breaking ball, things like that just don’t add up with what he’s capable of doing.”
Overall this season, Ferguson has gone 0-1 and pitched to a 3.46 ERA and 1.69 WHIP.
