Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Addresses Pitching Injuries With Postseason Looming: ‘We’re Gonna Have Enough’

The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered another blow to their starting pitching rotation when they placed Gavin Stone on the injured list with shoulder inflammation . Stone had been the one consistent piece in the rotation, making every one of his starts this season before becoming the latest pitcher to go on IL.

Stone joins starters Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw , who were recently placed on IL as well. Glasnow was placed on the IL on Aug. 16 with elbow tendinitis. The Dodgers are planning to ramp up his next bullpen session and are hopeful he will return before the postseason.

Kershaw landed on the IL again last week. He exited after pitching less than two innings due to a bone spur in his toe.

While Yoshinobu Yamamoto is finally returning from the IL to start Tuesday for the first time since he suffered a strained rotator cuff in June, the Dodgers rotation is thin. Yamamoto will join Landon Knack , Bobby Miller , Walker Buehler , and Jack Flaherty in the rotation, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes this gives the team “enough” pitchers.

“We’re gonna have enough pitching,” Roberts said, via Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. “The names might be a little bit different. I don’t think anyone knows who [will] and who won’t be a part of it.”

The Dodgers might have enough pitchers and names on paper, but the question remains if the pitchers will be good enough come October. Knack and Flaherty have been solid, but the status of the rotation will largely rest on the other three.

Yamamoto had a 2.92 ERA and 84 strikeouts when healthy this season, but he will have to show he can return to this level of pitching as he returns from injury. Miller continues to pitch inconsistently following a promising 2023 season.

He gave up seven earned runs in a 10-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels this week, which simply will not be good enough in the postseason. Miller has given up at least three earned runs in every start since he returned in August, and holds a 7.79 ERA on the year.

Buehler put in a solid start Tuesday, giving up just two earned runs in a 6-2 win over the Angels, but still holds a 5.67 ERA on the season. Over half of the Dodgers’ current rotation has not been consistent on the season, leaving more question marks as October nears.

Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

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