The Dodgers, 21 games up in the NL West and on course for a date in the World Series, are having injury problems.
Clayton Kershaw is pitching a rehab assignment this weekend, Yu Darvish is scheduled to come off the DL this weekend, and Alex Wood is on now on the 10-day DL with shoulder problems.The Dodgers have been one of the most frequent users of the new 10-day DL, which allows teams to park a player on a 10-day list rather than a more long-term shelf.
But that means that the Dodgers' top three pitchers are less than 100 percent as we wind down August and move into the final month of the season.
Kershaw wanted to pitch this weekend but the Dodgers' brass is proceeding with ultimate caution.
That's a luxury you can afford when you have a 21-game lead in your division.
Darvish experienced some back tightness and Wood some inflammation in his shoulder. Wood told reporters this week that he could pitch if necessary but the team is being careful with its arms.
Speaking of arms, Rich Hill lost a 1-0 heartbreaker last night when he gave up a 10th inning home run against Pittsburgh that snapped a no-hitter, shutout and possible win all in one swing. Hill was masterful, taking a perfect game into the ninth inning before a Logan Forsythe error at third broke up the perfecto.
What's encouraging is that Hill was on his game and appears healthy going into the home stretch.
Manager Dave Roberts will have to use a call-up from Oklahoma City or pitch a bullpen game due to the number of pitchers with wounded wings.
In the end, the work of the team doctors and trainers may have a significant impact on L.A.'s post season fortunes.
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