The Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff is once again at the point where there’s hope some starters will soon return from injury. Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill are leading the rotation, while Brett Anderson, Brandon McCarthy and Alex Wood are on the mend.
Hyun-Jin Ryu is also on the disabled list, and though he is hopeful of contributing this season, that doesn’t appear to be a likely scenario. Scott Kazmir suffered a setback in his rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City and doesn’t have a timetable to return.
Anderson is likely the closest to returning as he is set to make a rehab start for Oklahoma City on Friday.
It appears McCarthy and Wood may not be too far behind, with the duo set to throw simulated games at Camelback Ranch this weekend, according to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
Dave Roberts said Brandon McCarthy and Alex Wood will throw in simulated-game settings in AZ this weekend. #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 13, 2016
McCarthy has not pitched in a game since Aug. 13 due to a hip injury. The simulated game will be his second of the month. He made eight starts this season after recovering from Tommy John surgery, going 2-2 with a 3.63 ERA, 3.95 FIP and 1.27 WHIP.
McCarthy went 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA in his first four starts but then began to struggle with command and walked 17 batters in 12.1 innings pitched over his next four starts as the hip issue became something he was unable to shake free from.
Wood has been sideline since the end of May with an elbow injury. He underwent an arthroscopic debridement on his left elbow July 20 that required about eight weeks of recovery.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said that Wood will work out of the bullpen when he returns; primarily as a left-handed specialist. Wood has a 3.99 ERA in 10 starts this season.
