The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Corey Knebel and placed Joe Kelly on the injured list prior to Tuesday’s series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.
A designation was not given for Kelly, though considering a secondary move to get Knebel back on the 40-man roster was not announced, it suggests the 33-year-old may be on the COVID-IL. That wouldn’t necessarily amount to Kelly having tested positive, as it could be due to contact tracing.
Kelly joins Darien Nuñez as players the Dodgers have put on the IL without a designation in the past week.
Kelly is 2-0 with a 3.34 ERA in 31 games this season. He began the year on the 10-day IL due to what later became known as needed time for recovery from offseason shoulder surgery. Kelly has noted how much healthier he feels this season after having cysts removed.
Knebel is back with the team after going on the IL on April 14 due to a right lat strain. He was unable to pick up a baseball for five weeks before resuming a throwing program and steadily building up to beginning a rehab assignment.
Knebel pitched to a 1.59 ERA and collected 11 strikeouts in 5.2 innings across six rehab appearances for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The right-hander began his Dodgers career with six consecutive scoreless appearances before allowing at least one run in back-to-back games prior to the lat injury.
Knebel focused on getting healthy
Although there was a desire to get back into the Dodgers’ bullpen, Knebel was also mindful of needing to ensure health while pitching in simulated games that came before a rehab assignment.
“I want to make sure I’m ready to go and it’s not going to be get up here and throw, then have to take two days off,” Knebel recently said. “I want to make sure that I’m going to get here and throw every day if I have to.”
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