The Western Division-leading have an eight-game lead over a trio of division contenders, but their organizational cache will be challenged after losing MVP and Cy Young-caliber talent over the weekend.
After developing pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto left Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals on June 15, 2024, shortstop Mookie Betts joined him on the hardship shuttle the next day.
Yamamoto had been having triceps pain earlier this week. Unfortunately, after flaring up again on Saturday, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with what is now described as a rotator cuff strain.
Betts took a nasty rising 98 mph heater off his left hand from Royals’ reliever Dan Altavilla that has since been diagnosed as a fracture in Betts’ hand. Betts will remain on the injured list likely for the next several weeks.
In addition, bullpen arm Michael Grove was lost to injury, and Joe Kelly was moved to the 60-day injured list meaning he won’t return before July 6. Here’s a breakdown of the aftermath of a costly couple of days for the Dodgers.
Mookie Betts exited the game after being hit in the hand with a 98mph fastball pic.twitter.com/lmRB3571Tt
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 16, 2024
Dodger’s manager Dave Roberts told reporters the injury would not require surgery, but Betts would miss significant time regardless.
“No surgery,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s just going to be rest and let the bones heal,” per SB Nation.
The star infielder will remain in Los Angeles to visit Dr. Steven Shin as the Dodgers move on to Denver for a four-game set vs. the Colorado Rockies.
“It’s a big blow. I feel really bad for Mookie. He was obviously having an MVP-type season,” Roberts said. “It’s very unfortunate, but you’ve got to move on, and that’s what we’re going to do,” wrote SB Nation.
Reserve infielder Miguel Rojas figures to get the bulk of playing time in Betts’ absence, and fellow reserve Kiké Hernández will contribute when needed. The True Blue also have an option of shortstop Trey Sweeny from their Triple-A Oklahoma City affiliate.
Sweeney sits third with 10 home runs and 42 runs batted in on the OKC roster.
Yamamoto Out ‘Several Weeks – if Not Months’
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was a hot commodity in the offseason and the Dodgers brought his talents to Los Angeles with a 12-year/$325 million deal that was part of an unprecedented spending spree.
As bad luck would have it, Yamamoto was finding a groove with his ERA dipping below three (2.92) and a stingy 1.06 WHIP.
An updated scenario on the shoulder-related injury that manager Dave Roberts said he believed was not “season-ending” will still have the talented righty on the shelf “for several weeks, if not months,” per the Los Angeles Times Mike DiGiovanna.
“I just think that it’s a guy that we’re still trying to learn a lot about and appreciate the fact that the most important time of the season is yet to come,” [manager Dave] Roberts per MLB.com. “And his health is paramount. So for us to be proactive and put him on the IL, kind of reset him, seems like the smartest move.”
A Carousel of Arms Over the Next Few Weeks
Long-reliever Michael Grove ironically went down with a right intercostal strain (15-day injured list) on Saturday while hastily coming in to replace the injured Yamamoto. Grove has six holds in 28 appearances with 47 strikeouts in 32 innings and a 5.06 ERA while compiling a 0.6 fWAR. He was also finding an upward path before the muscle strain.
In response to the Yamamoto and Grove setbacks, the Dodgers selected the contract of pitcher Michael Petersen and recalled pitcher J.P. Feyereisen from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Peterson has been stellar in AAA with a 1.61 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and opposing hitters only batting .128 against him. J.P. Feyereisen has struggled with a combined 7.59 ERA in 21 appearances between AAA and the Dodgers.
Significantly and in a timely bit of good luck, right-handed pitcher Bobby Miller (shoulder inflammation) will exit the injured list and start this coming Wednesday when the Dodgers play the Rockies at Coors Field.
Also, Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw is on the cusp of beginning a rehab assignment and may be in the mix a bit down the pike.
Despite the carnage, the Dodgers’ front office is taking it in stride.
“Part of constructing the roster is getting an abundance of pitching,” said [Dave] Roberts. “It’s just in baseball everywhere, guys go down at different times, and you’ve got to be able to backfill,” per MLB.com