Hyun-Jin Ryu was removed in the third inning after he was struck by a line drive on his left hand/wrist area. X-rays came back negative and he was diagnosed with a left forearm contusion.
Ryu managed to make the play for the first out but then kneeled over in pain and was checked on by Dodgers head athletic trainer Nate Lucero. Ryu was replaced by Ross Stripling, who was free to take as much time needed to warm up before play resumed.
Stripling completed the third, then gave way to Brandon McCarthy for his first relief appearance this season. McCarthy allowed one run in his three innings of work.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said Kenta Maeda and Ryu were earmarked for opportunities to pitch out of the bullpen in order to determine if either would make the playoff roster as a reliever.
But the day prior to Ryu’s start, Roberts said a determination on whether the southpaw would transition to the bullpen had not been finalized.
Unlike with Maeda in his start against the Washington Nationals, Ryu was expected to pitch without any predetermined cap. He allowed one run on three hits, and had one strikeout in 2.1 innings.
Ryu entered the night 5-7 with one save, a 3.46 ERA, 4.49 FIP and 1.33 WHIP in 23 games (22 starts).
