The Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation woes deepened on Saturday night as promising rookie right-hander River Ryan exited the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with what was later confirmed to be a significant injury.
Initially feeling forearm tightness in the third inning, Ryan attempted to manage the discomfort with a massage gun between innings. However, by the fifth inning, the pain had escalated, forcing Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts to remove him from the mound. By the next day, Ryan was placed on the injured list, with subsequent tests revealing a torn UCL in his throwing elbow. This diagnosis means Ryan will require Tommy John surgery, effectively ruling him out for the remainder of the 2024 season and most, if not all, of 2025.
This setback is particularly disheartening for the Dodgers, who had high hopes for Ryan. Making his debut earlier this year, he showcased his potential and earned praise, with Baseball America describing him as a pitcher who "has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter." His early exit is just the latest in a series of injuries that have plagued the Dodgers' pitching staff this season.
Compounding the rotation's struggles, another young pitcher, Bobby Miller, also missed significant time earlier in the season due to shoulder inflammation. Miller’s return to the majors was rocky; he recorded an 8.07 ERA in seven starts before being demoted to Triple-A, where his struggles continued with a 5.82 ERA and nearly as many walks (16) as strikeouts (17) in five outings.
This year, the Dodgers have utilized 17 different starting pitchers—the highest number in Major League Baseball. The constant churn of the rotation underscores the team’s effort to navigate an unrelenting series of injuries and setbacks.
A Herculean Task Ahead
With Ryan sidelined, the Dodgers called up right-handed pitcher Landon Knack in an attempt to stabilize their patchwork rotation. The Dodgers, currently holding a record of 70-49 and the best record in the National League, find themselves in a precarious position. They lead the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres by a tenuous 3 1/2 games, and any further disruptions to their pitching staff could jeopardize their standing.
Manager Dave Roberts, along with his coaching staff, now faces the significant challenge of piecing together a rotation capable of competing in the postseason. The Dodgers will need to carefully manage the workload of their remaining healthy arms to avoid further injuries and potential burnout as the season progresses.
Preserving Dominance
In the face of these adversities, the Dodgers remain focused on maintaining their lead in the National League standings. Roberts and his team will need to employ strategic planning, possibly leveraging bullpen games and closely monitoring pitch counts, to preserve their pitchers throughout the remainder of the season.
As the team navigates these turbulent times, the resilience and adaptability of both the players and the management will be put to the test. The hope is that the infusion of fresh talent, like Knack, can provide the necessary support to keep the Dodgers competitive.
While Ryan’s injury marks a significant loss, the Dodgers’ depth and resourcefulness have historically been their strong suits. The coming weeks will reveal how effectively they can marshal those strengths to secure their postseason aspirations and, ultimately, pursue championship glory.