With the regular season winding to a close, the Los Angeles Dodgers have begun auditions for certain players who may be included on the club’s postseason roster. That was initially expected to include Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu each appearing out of the bullpen.
However, manager Dave Roberts backtracked on that stance and indicated the Dodgers would look to keep Ryu as part of the rotation for the final stretch of games. He started last Saturday but was removed with one out in the third inning after being struck by a line drive.
X-rays came back negative and Ryu was diagnosed with a left forearm contusion. It cast some doubt on his availability moving forward, but the Dodgers remain hopeful the southpaw will take the mound this weekend.
“The swelling went down,” Dave Roberts said Monday. “He’ll probably throw a side session in a couple days. The goal is to get him a start against the Rockies. That’s all contingent upon how Hyun-Jin feels.”
As it stands, the Dodgers have also earmarked starts for Clayton Kershaw and Yu Darvish at Coors Field. It can be reasonably expected each will receive and extra day of rest, and thus take the mound Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
That would leave a need for a starter in the series opener, which Ryu could fill on five days’ rest. Regardless of who the Dodgers send out in the three-game set, it’s plausible the Rockies will be looking to secure the second spot in the National League Wild Card Game.
Conversely, Los Angeles may still be in pursuit of home-field advantage throughout the World Series.
