The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit a snag in their plans as right-hander Brusdar Graterol has been sidelined from his throwing program, as announced by manager Dave Roberts to the team’s beat on Wednesday night.
Despite no new injury or significant setback, Graterol continues to experience discomfort in his arm while throwing and is not recovering as anticipated.
Graterol, a key component of the Dodgers’ bullpen, has been absent since the beginning of the season due to shoulder pain he encountered during spring training, leading to a diagnosis of inflammation.
Initially placed on the 60-day Injured List, the hope was for his return around mid-May, especially considering the early start to the season with the Seoul Series against the Padres.
However, that timeline now appears unlikely. Roberts refrained from providing an exact return schedule but suggested that Graterol would need an extensive rehabilitation program before being ready to pitch at the Major League level again.
This setback comes as unwelcome news for the Dodgers’ bullpen, which currently ranks 19th in ERA, 26th in FIP, and 16th in SIERA among Major League teams. Graterol played a significant role in the bullpen last season, boasting an impressive 1.20 ERA over 67 1/3 innings, during which he secured 19 holds and seven saves.
Although his strikeout rate was modest at 18.7%, he compensated with an outstanding 4.7% walk rate and an impressive 64.4% ground-ball rate. Since joining the Dodgers from the Twins in exchange for Kenta Maeda four seasons ago, Graterol has maintained a solid 2.69 ERA over 173 2/3 innings.
While some Dodgers relievers, including closer Evan Phillips, setup man Daniel Hudson, and long man Ryan Yarbrough, have performed well this season, the rest of the bullpen has struggled significantly.
Lefty Alex Vesia has shown promise with a 2.19 ERA but faces challenges due to a high walk rate. Other relievers like Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier, and Michael Grove have struggled with ERAs above 5.59.
The Dodgers’ bullpen has already seen significant turnover this season, having utilized 15 different relievers, more than any other team in baseball. The potential return of Graterol would provide much-needed stability to Roberts’ relief corps.
However, with his recovery timeline uncertain, the Dodgers may need to explore the trade market for additional bullpen support, especially if Graterol faces an extended absence, adding urgency to their search for reinforcements.
