SAN FRANCISCO -- Through the first half of this season, the Dodgers have not had the pitching staff they expected due to a wave of injuries. Their top right-handed options out of the bullpen have been hit especially hard.
Evan Phillips is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Blake Treinen has been on the injured list since mid-April. And Michael Kopech is out for a longer period than expected after having a meniscectomy in his right knee.
Kopech did not make his season debut until June due to impingement in his right shoulder, and he did not allow a run across eight appearances (seven innings). The 29-year-old right-hander went on the IL again with right knee inflammation on July 1 (retroactive to June 28), and was initially expected to miss minimal time.
But Kopech continued to feel discomfort in his knee, and ended up needing surgery. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on Wednesday and will not be eligible to be activated until the end of August. He is expected to return this season.
"Fortunately, the surgery was a success," manager Dave Roberts said. "It was a minor cleanup. Don’t know a timetable. But it was just something that was bothering him. I think with the knee, if there’s certain things that trigger it, then it’s just not sustainable to manage it. We got to that point."
Treinen began a rehab assignment on Wednesday and is expected to be back not too long after the All-Star break. Once he works up to pitching on back-to-back days, then he should be getting close to being an option for the Dodgers.
Treinen's return should boost a Dodgers bullpen that entered Friday leading the Majors with 413 2/3 innings and ranking 24th with a 4.44 ERA. But they could stand to add another right-handed high-leverage arm ahead of the July 31 Trade Deadline.
Offseason addition Kirby Yates is currently L.A.'s top right-handed leverage option, but he has been streaky, posting a 3.90 ERA in 34 appearances. Ben Casparius' return to the bullpen after a brief stint in the rotation should give the Dodgers another solid internal option in the late innings.
"Ben’s a nice back-filler for that," Roberts said. "But yeah, when you’re losing three of your top relievers at any given time, certainly at the same time, it’s a hit. But it’s a good opportunity for other guys."