With the start of the postseason just around the corner, the main focus for the Los Angeles Dodgers right now is staying healthy and getting their injured players ready for meaningful October games.
While the team welcomed a key player in Justin Turner back to the lineup in Tuesday night’s win against the San Diego Padres, they unfortunately also lost a key member of the bullpen in the eighth inning.
After Tony Gonsolin pitched seven strong innings and left in a 3-1 game, Caleb Ferguson was the first reliever tasked with protecting the slim lead.
Ferguson has been one of the Dodgers’ best relievers this season and his outing got off to a good start, striking out the first batter he faced on three pitches. Unfortunately, those were the only pitches he made as he was then forced to leave the game with an elbow injury.
“There was an X-ray and ultrasound, and right now nothing is conclusive. We’re going to get an MRI in Los Angeles and we’ll know more,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“Right now, we’re going to remain in that hopeful state. It was the elbow. He felt something, but the tests and everything right now, didn’t present as a UCL, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for Caleb.”
Roberts added that there hasn’t shown signs of it being UCL injury, which would require Tommy John surgery if torn, so the Dodgers are hopeful. “All I know is that it didn’t present as such, so I’m just remaining hopeful,” Roberts added.
Roberts didn’t say whether or not they’d place Ferguson on the IL before the series finale against the Padres on Wednesday afternoon, although the MRI will likely be completed by the time the game starts at 1 p.m. PT.
Bullpen closes out victory despite Ferguson injury
With Ferguson only able to get the first out of the eighth, it was Blake Treinen and Kenley Jansen that were tasked with getting the final five outs to close out the game.
Treinen had no issues, needing just four pitches to get the final two outs of the eighth. Jansen, on the other hand, ran into some trouble as he loaded the bases with one out in the ninth on two singles and a walk. He beared down from there though, getting back-to-back strikeouts to end the game and earn the save.
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