The Los Angeles Dodgers have been dealt another blow to their pitching staff, with rookie right-hander River Ryan the latest to join the injured list. Ryan exited Saturday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after experiencing forearm tightness, a troublesome sign for the beleaguered Dodgers.
Early Departure and Rising Concerns
Ryan, who had recently come back from a sore shoulder that sidelined him for the first two months of the season, left the game after pitching 4 2/3 innings and throwing 56 pitches. The discomfort began during the third inning, but Ryan tried to manage it by using a massage gun between innings. Unfortunately, the tightness returned in the fifth inning, ultimately forcing the Dodgers to pull him from the game.
"Hopefully we have some good news, and we'll see. Obviously, we've got to be careful with him. We'll know more tomorrow," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "But obviously, when you see a guy go on his forearm, it's always disconcerting."
History of Injuries
Ryan's injury adds to the long list of pitching woes for the Dodgers this season. With Ryan sidelined, the team has now used 17 different starting pitchers, a testament to the injury plague they've been battling. The Dodgers have already seen Bobby Miller miss two months due to shoulder inflammation. Miller, who has struggled with an 8.07 ERA in seven major-league starts and a 5.82 ERA in Triple-A, is still trying to find his footing.
Ryan, who joined the Dodgers in a minor trade from the San Diego Padres for utility man Matt Beaty in March 2022, has been a bright spot in an otherwise dim stretch. He boasts a 1.33 ERA in his four MLB starts this year and was recently named the No. 10 prospect in the Dodgers’ system by Baseball America.
Impact on the Standings
The Dodgers' season has seen a series of ups and downs. Despite holding a 68-49 record, the team’s recent performance has been less than stellar, going 17-18 over their last 35 games. This slump has significantly impacted their standing in the fiercely competitive NL West, where their lead has shrunk from 8.5 games on July 23 to a tenuous 2.5 games.
Looking Ahead
The immediate course of action will be placing Ryan on the injured list and conducting further tests to determine the extent of the injury. With the Dodgers already dealing with a shaky rotation, the urgency to find some stability and return to their winning ways is palpable.
Dodgers fans and the management alike will be hoping for the best possible outcome from Ryan's medical evaluations. The hope is that this setback is temporary and that the rookie right-hander can return to fortify a rotation that's desperate for consistency.
The entire Dodgers organization is on edge, but as with any challenging season, resilience will be crucial. The talent within their ranks remains undeniable, and if they can navigate through this rough patch, their prospects for the postseason remain strong.
Manager Dave Roberts sums up the prevailing sentiment: "Hopefully we have some good news, and we'll see."