The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back one of their important relief pitchers when Blake Treinen returned from the 60-day injured list after being out since April.
The right-hander made seven appearances while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing five runs (three earned) and collecting nine strikeouts over six innings of work. Treinen’s velocity wasn’t at its usual level, but he and the Dodgers downplayed any concern.
While the 34-year-old is resuming with the role of being available for any high-leverage situation, the Dodgers do have some limitations in place.
Manager Dave Roberts recently explained the Dodgers will be cautious with potentially having Treinen pitch in parts of multiple innings during any appearance, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I don’t think there will be an up-down,” Roberts said, referring to closing out an inning and going back out to start the next inning. “I think we’ll be fine with the back-to-back but the up-down is what we’ll be very mindful of.”
While Roberts is hesitant to use Treinen in multiple innings, that he won’t shy away from using Treinen in back-to-back games is especially encouraging as it is a role he has embraced in past seasons and will need to fill come October.
Treinen has allowed just one walk in two innings pitched across two appearances since coming off the IL. They were with one day of rest in between, and Treinen was among the Dodgers relief pitchers who were not available in the series finale against the San Francisco Giants.
Blake Treinen reveals shoulder injury details
Throughout his recovery process, Treinen declined to provide many specifics of his right shoulder injury. That changed in his first interview upon returning, as Treinen revealed he had a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder. Season-ending surgery was initially recommended, but scar tissue developing allowed for Treinen to take the rest and rehab route.
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