Dodgers’ Joe Kelly Has Timetable to Return

Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly is scheduled to make back-to-back rehab starts on Friday and Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He will likely return to the Dodgers active roster next week for the three-game series against the Miami Marlins, according to Doug Padilla of the Southern California News Group.

Kelly, 36, has not pitched since Aug. 30 as he sustained right (throwing) shoulder inflammation. In July, the Dodgers reactivated Kelly from a two-month stint on the 60-day injured list. He endured a right shoulder posterior strain in May. It has not been reported whether Kelly’s current injury is related to the previous shoulder strain.

While a handful of Dodgers pitchers have gone down with injuries this season, the bullpen has remained the healthiest compared to the starting rotation. Kelly is one of three Dodgers relievers on the IL, alongside Anthony Banda and Connor Brodgdon.

Banda is the most recent addition to the IL after he fractured his left hand by punching a solid object out of frustration. Brogdon has been sidelined with right plantar fasciitis since April, but he started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Aug. 20.

Kelly has struggled this season. He has posted a 5.20 ERA, which is his a career-high as a Dodger. The Riverside native played for the Dodgers from 2019-21. He contributed to the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series Championship in 2020 by logging a full-season career-best 1.80 ERA.

In 2021, the Chicago White Sox signed Kelly as a free agent. He returned to the Dodgers last season at the trade deadline alongside right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn. In exchange, the White Sox acquired right fielder Trayce Thompson, right-handed pitcher Nick Nastrini, and right-handed pitcher Jordan Leasure.

In the second half of the 2023 season, Kelly accrued a 1.74 ERA. This was a significant improvement from the 4.97 ERA he recorded in the first half with Chicago. Although he was starting to look like the 2020 version of himself, Kelly’s performance plummeted this season. Soon, he’ll have a chance to get untracked.

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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