Cactus League play is underway for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have gone 2-3-1 through their first six games after Tuesday’s tie against the Texas Rangers.
Winning isn’t the most important thing right now though, as players are just getting back into the swing of things and working themselves into game shape. Hyun-Jin Ryu was scheduled to make his first start of the spring on Wednesday when the Dodgers travel to Peoria to take on the San Diego Padres, but that is no longer.
He was scratched due to illness and the Dodgers will instead start Wilmer Font for a second time this spring, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Hyun-Jin Ryu scratched from scheduled start today due to illness. Wilmer Font will start for #Dodgers v Padres
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 28, 2018
It appears Ryu is not the only one dealing with the illness, with Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig among those also affected and no longer traveling, per Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
Bellinger, Forsythe, Hernandez, Puig, Barnes, Farmer and Thompson were all apparently scratched as the Dodgers confront this outbreak.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) February 28, 2018
Reports from Camelback Ranch indicate the Dodgers have several biodefense systems throughout the clubhouse in effort to keep prevent additional players from falling ill.
While that many players missing time is less than ideal, the best course of action is to send them home so no one else gets sick and hope they will be back on the field in the coming days.
The Dodgers have not announced when Ryu is scheduled to take the mound next after being scratched from Wednesday’s start.
