The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Joe Kelly from the 10-day injured list prior to the series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, though he was not with the team and can’t appear in a game until Wednesday.
That of course is due to Kelly needing to serve a five-game suspension that was a result of a benches-clearing incident with the Houston Astros. Kelly initially received an eight-game ban, which was reduced after an appeal process that the veteran pitcher still had questions about.
“I would still like to know what they think, what the difference is,” Kelly said of the perception he threw at the Astros and how New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman was evaluated for what seemed to be a more egregious pitch.
“And if it’s not the same, what’s the standard for it because obviously if it was eight, three games for the suspension and five for the face, or supposedly making the other team leave benches. That’s a lot of games for that but I don’t really have any more thoughts other than that.
“They made the decision and that’s what it is. I didn’t think there was too much weight held to their decision on that aspect, I think their just throwing shit out there. But it is what it is, I can’t change that.”
Prior to the dugouts at Minute Maid Park clearing, Kelly made a pouty face to Astros shortstop Carlos Correa. It immediately went viral and was used by Jonas Never for his latest mural.
Never painted Kelly’s pouty face expression on the side of Floyd’s Barbershop in Silverlake, and it drew an appearance from the Dodgers relief pitcher and his family.
Never has become renowned for his murals throughout Los Angeles, with a tribute to Chadwick Boseman — saluting his role as Jackie Robinson in “42” — among his latest work. Last year, Never was commissioned by Adidas to celebrate the anniversary Dodgers’ arrival from Brooklyn.
Kelly confident in health
As for matters on the field, Kelly is confident in his health and believes there remains ample time to get into game form prior to the postseason. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts estimated Kelly would only need a handful of appearances to get sharp for October.
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