Injury Adds to Dodgers’ Rotational Woes
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation has suffered another setback with the recent injury to rookie right-hander River Ryan. The young pitcher exited Saturday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after experiencing forearm tightness, compounding the woes of a pitching staff already reeling from a season marred by injuries.
Ryan’s discomfort became apparent in the third inning, and despite attempting to alleviate the pain with a massage gun between innings, he was forced off the mound in the fifth inning. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts took no chances, promptly removing Ryan from the game. The immediate diagnosis landed Ryan on the injured list the following day, and subsequent tests confirmed the severity of his condition—as the bright prospect indeed has a torn UCL in his throwing elbow, a serious injury that necessitates Tommy John surgery.
The forthcoming surgery not only concludes Ryan's 2024 campaign but also sidelines him for most, if not all, of 2025. This grim news halts a promising start to his professional career; Ryan had only made his debut earlier this year, with the Dodgers holding high hopes for the emerging talent. Unfortunately, his season had already been delayed as he missed the first two months with a sore shoulder, an ominous precursor to his current predicament.
The injury history within the Dodgers' rotation is extensive this season. Bobby Miller, another young hurler laden with potential, also missed significant time due to shoulder inflammation. Upon his return, Miller struggled, posting an 8.07 ERA in seven major league starts before being demoted. His Triple-A stint fared slightly better, but a 5.82 ERA combined with nearly as many walks (16) as strikeouts (17) in five starts indicates ongoing struggles to regain form.
In what has been a challenging season, the Dodgers have cycled through 17 different starting pitchers—the most in baseball—showcasing the toll injuries have taken on their staff. To mitigate Ryan's absence, the team has called up right-handed pitcher Landon Knack, who will now be thrust into the spotlight as the Dodgers continue to juggle their roster in an effort to maintain dominance in the National League.
Currently, the Dodgers hold a strong position in the standings with a 70-49 record, the best in the National League. However, their lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres is slim at just 3 1/2 games. As the postseason nears, manager Dave Roberts and his staff face the arduous task of piecing together a rotation that can withstand the rigors of playoff baseball.
Preserving the health of the remaining arms becomes paramount, and managing innings carefully will be crucial for Roberts. The challenge is to strike a balance between staying competitive and ensuring that their most valuable pitchers remain available and effective during the most critical stretches of the season.
For the Dodgers, the goal remains clear: sustain their position at the top of the National League and battle through the adversity that has plagued their rotation. The team’s depth will be tested, and young players like Landon Knack will have opportunities to step up and contribute. As Baseball America noted regarding Ryan, they hope that Knack "has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter," positioning him to fill the significant void left by the injured rookie.
The Dodgers’ resilience is about to be rigorously tested yet again as they navigate the concluding months of the regular season. Moving forward, it will be imperative for the club to rely on both emerging talent and seasoned veterans to weather this latest storm and advance toward what they hope will be another deep postseason run.