The Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff boasts plenty of depth, which is going to be needed in the bullpen as Brusdar Graterol, Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips are behind since Spring Training started earlier this month.
That was to be expected with Graterol, who underwent right shoulder surgery in the offseason. The same conceivably could be said about Phillips due to his injury suffered during the postseason being a tear in the back of the rotator cuff of his throwing shoulder.
Meanwhile, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes downplayed concern about Kopech’s outlook when asked in late January.
“He’s throwing and playing catch. We’re going to see how he progresses. I don’t think there’s anything of concern at this point,” Gomes told DodgerBlue.com.
Gomes then gave a vague response when asked if Kopech dealt with the right arm issue during the postseason.
“I mean, no more than anybody else that was grinding through things,” he said.
Kopech was said to be dealing with right forearm inflammation that originally surfaced during the Dodgers’ run to winning the World Series.
He went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 10 strikeouts over nine innings pitched in 10 games (one start) during the playoffs.
Michael Kopech update
Phillips threw a light bullpen session on Friday and Kopech took his turn with some easy throws off the mound Saturday.
“He’s getting better each day,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “The sickness got him and set him back, but he’s in a better spot.
“Today will be good because he’s going to get on the mound, then he’ll throw a bullpen and we’ll go from there.”
Even with Kopech improving, he is not expected to be included on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster for the Tokyo Series. Being available by the Dodger Stadium opener on March 27 would appear to be more feasible, but perhaps still not necessarily likely.
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