The Los Angeles Dodgers are grappling with a slew of injuries, which has significant ramifications for their postseason aspirations. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the unfortunate news that right-hander Gavin Stone is "very unlikely" to make a return this season due to persistent shoulder soreness.
Stone has not taken the mound since August 31, disrupting a season where he made 25 starts, boasting a 3.53 ERA (111 ERA+), and a stellar 3.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His performance translated to an estimated 1.8 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), an impressive contribution that the Dodgers will sorely miss as they aim for postseason success.
Adding to the Dodgers' woes, Tyler Glasnow is also facing injury issues, which further stretches their pitching depth. This development comes at a particularly inopportune moment as the team is already missing key contributors such as Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, River Ryan, and Emmet Sheehan. With so many pivotal players sidelined, managing the pitching staff becomes a critical task for Roberts and his team.
As the Dodgers attempt to navigate these challenges, the current rotation includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, and Landon Knack. Bobby Miller, who was recently optioned to Triple-A, allowed four runs on seven hits over two innings in a game against the Miami Marlins, a performance that indicated he might need more seasoning before being relied upon in high-stakes situations.
The Dodgers, with a solid 89-62 record as of Wednesday, hold a 3 1/2 game edge in the National League West. They are also two games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the National League's second seed and trail the Philadelphia Phillies by two games for the top seed. Each game’s outcome will be crucial in determining their final seeding and potential home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers' President of Baseball Operations, remains cautiously optimistic. "I'm not sure," Friedman told MLB.com. "I'm optimistic he is going to do everything he possibly can. There's just so much unknown around it that we're going to do all we can to dominate each day, and hopefully, when he starts throwing, he can ramp up from there. It's just hard to speculate right now."
This air of uncertainty underscores the precarious position the Dodgers find themselves in as they approach the postseason. Every win or loss holds significant weight, not just for their standing but for the morale and confidence of a team that had high hopes for a deep playoff run.
With key pitchers down and a tight schedule ahead, the Dodgers' ability to adapt and overcome these adversities will be tested. Roberts and his managerial decisions, particularly regarding the bullpen and rotation, will be under a microscope. Each move could tilt the balance in a fiercely competitive National League.
As the regular season winds down, the Dodgers will need to pull together and leverage the depth and versatility of their roster. Keeping players healthy, maintaining pitching effectiveness, and ensuring strategic game management will be pivotal. The team’s resilience and tactical acumen could make all the difference in their quest to secure a favorable postseason path.