The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to grapple with a series of unfortunate injuries among their starting pitchers, the latest being rookie right-hander River Ryan. During Saturday night’s clash against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ryan was forced to leave the game prematurely due to forearm tightness.
Ryan’s exit came after pitching 4 2/3 innings and throwing 56 pitches. The discomfort began in the third inning, leading Ryan to use a massage gun between innings in an attempt to alleviate the tightness. Unfortunately, the issue resurfaced in the fifth inning, necessitating his early departure from the mound.
An Unwelcome Pattern
Ryan, who had only just returned after an early season absence due to a sore shoulder, will now be placed on the injured list and undergo further testing on Sunday. "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.
This latest setback continues a troubling trend for the Dodgers, who have already used 17 different starting pitchers this season. Among those, Bobby Miller also missed two months due to shoulder inflammation and has struggled to find consistency since his return. Miller, who carries an 8.07 ERA in seven major-league starts this season, was recently demoted after a challenging stint in Triple-A, where he posted a 5.82 ERA with almost as many walks (16) as strikeouts (17) in five starts.
Ryan’s Promising Start
Despite the injury, River Ryan has been a bright spot for the Dodgers in his limited appearances. Acquired from the San Diego Padres in a minor trade for utility man Matt Beaty in March 2022, Ryan boasts a 1.33 ERA across his four MLB starts this year. His impressive performances have not gone unnoticed, earning him the recognition of being Baseball America's No.10 prospect in the Dodgers' midseason update.
Team's Struggles
The Dodgers’ recent performance has been inconsistent. Holding a 68-49 record, they have gone 17-18 over their last 35 games, causing their NL West lead to shrink significantly from 8.5 games on July 23 to just 2.5 games. The team's challenge now lies in preserving its lead and navigating through the ongoing injuries that have plagued their rotation.
Manager Dave Roberts expressed his concerns, particularly about Ryan’s forearm injury being a serious one. "But obviously, when you see a guy go on his forearm, it's always disconcerting," Roberts noted.
The Dodgers, with a storied history of resilience and excellence, are now faced with the difficult task of managing their roster amidst these turbulent times. As they await further news on River Ryan’s condition, the hope is that this latest injury won't derail their quest for a strong finish to the season.