Dodgers' Injury Woes: Buehler, Graterol Among Quartet on IL

As the Los Angeles Dodgers gear up for the highly anticipated Seoul Series, their pitching staff has taken a hit with four hurlers landing on the 10-day injured list. The move, which was finalized on Monday evening, sees aces Walker Buehler and Brusdar Graterol, along with Emmet Sheehan and Blake Treinen, sidelined for the time being.

Buehler’s inclusion on the IL comes as no surprise, as the Dodgers had previously announced their intentions to ease the right-hander back into action after he missed the entire 2023 campaign while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old has been a cornerstone of the Dodgers’ rotation when healthy, but the team is wisely exercising caution with their prized asset.

For Graterol, the setback stems from a combination of hip tightness and inflammation in his throwing shoulder – ailments that have delayed his start to the season. The hard-throwing Venezuelan has been a key cog in the Dodgers’ bullpen over the past couple of years, and his absence will undoubtedly be felt, at least in the short term.

Sheehan’s injury, initially reported as shoulder discomfort, has now been classified as forearm inflammation. However, in what can be seen as a positive development, the young right-hander has been throwing to hitters, suggesting that the issue is not as severe as initially feared.

Rounding out the quartet is Blake Treinen, who suffered a bruised lung after being struck by a comebacker during a Spring Training game on March 9th. The veteran reliever’s placement on the IL appears to be a precautionary measure, allowing him additional time to recover from the frightening incident.

While the injuries to this pitching quartet are undoubtedly disappointing, the Dodgers’ depth should help mitigate the impact, at least in the short term. One beneficiary of the situation could be Landon Knack, a 26-year-old right-hander who was selected to the 40-man roster over the winter. Knack, a former second-round pick out of East Tennessee State, has impressed in the minors, posting a 2.51 ERA over 22 starts between the top two levels last season.

However, all eyes will be on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the highly touted Japanese prospect who is slated to make his major league debut on Thursday, opposing San Diego’s Joe Musgrove in the second game of the season. Yamamoto’s debut will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the Seoul Series, which kicks off on Wednesday with a marquee pitching matchup between Yu Darvish and Tyler Glasnow.

As the Dodgers embark on this historic international series, their focus will be on managing their pitching staff’s health while simultaneously putting on a show for the Korean fans. With a deep and talented roster, the Dodgers are well-equipped to weather the early-season storm, but the return of their injured hurlers will be crucial as they embark on their quest for yet another World Series title.