After spend the first five weeks of 2016 season with somewhat of a patchwork starting rotation, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to draw closer to the returns of Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Both starters have thrown bullpen and living batting practice sessions at Dodger Stadium without issue. Earlier this month Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated he expected McCarthy and Ryu to return within one week of each other. Their respective recovery timelines suggested that would take place some time in June.
Since that point, the pair of rehabbing starters completed more throwing sessions, which for McCarthy included Roberts standing on both sides of the batter’s box to better gauge the movement on the right-hander’s pitches.
Ryu faced Charlie Culberson and Trayce Thompson during a live BP session in which the southpaw tossed 60 pitches over three innings, putting Ryu closer to beginning a rehab assignment.
According to Andy McCullough of the LA Times, that will take place on Sunday with Ryu starting for High-A Rancho Cucamonga:
Hyun-Jin Ryu will throw two innings for Rancho Cucamonga tomorrow.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) May 14, 2016
The Quakes face Inland Empire 66ers (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim affiliate) at 2:05 p.m. PT on Sunday in the third of a four-game series. Ryu’s start is his first since pitching in a Cactus League game on March 17, 2015.
The outing is the first of what’s to expected to be multiple rehab assignments for Ryu, per Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
#Dodgers mgr Dave Roberts said he expects Hyun-Jin Ryu to make 4-5 starts on his rehab assignment to build up arm strength/pitch count
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 14, 2016
Although Ryu is taking a significant step forward in his recovery from last April’s surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, Roberts previously made it clear he, nor McCarthy, would be rushed back.
Ryu, who last pitched in a Major League game in 2014, is 28-15 with a 3.17 ERA, 2.97 FIP and 1.19 WHIP over 56 starts for the Dodgers.
