The Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation, already beset by injuries, has encountered another setback with the loss of promising rookie right-hander River Ryan. During a Saturday night game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ryan was forced to leave in the fifth inning due to forearm tightness—an ailment that began troubling him in the third inning.
Ryan initially tried to manage the discomfort using a massage gun between innings, but by the fifth, the tightness had returned, prompting Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts to remove him from the game. Unfortunately, the situation worsened when subsequent tests revealed that Ryan had torn his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing elbow. This serious injury necessitates Tommy John surgery, effectively ending Ryan's 2024 season and likely sidelining him for the majority, if not all, of 2025.
River Ryan made his Major League debut earlier this year, and the Dodgers had high expectations for the young pitcher, described by Baseball America as having "the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter." Despite missing the first two months of the season due to a sore shoulder, Ryan's performance had kindled hopes among the Dodgers' brass that he could make a significant impact.
Unfortunately, Ryan's injury is just the latest in a series of setbacks for the Dodgers' pitching staff. Bobby Miller, another key member of the rotation, also missed a significant portion of the season due to shoulder inflammation. Upon returning, Miller struggled to find his form, recording an 8.07 ERA in seven big-league starts before being demoted. His subsequent time in Triple-A wasn't much better, sporting a 5.82 ERA and nearly as many walks (16) as strikeouts (17) in five starts.
This season, the Dodgers have utilized an astounding 17 different starting pitchers, the most in Major League Baseball. With Ryan now sidelined, the team has called up right-handed pitcher Landon Knack in an effort to shore up the rotation. The Dodgers currently hold a record of 70-49, the best in the National League, but with the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres trailing by just 3 1/2 games, the pressure is on to maintain their lead.
Manager Dave Roberts and his staff are now faced with the daunting task of piecing together a reliable rotation for the much-anticipated postseason. This involves not only managing the health of their remaining pitchers but also carefully monitoring innings to prevent further injuries. The Dodgers' goal is clear: preserve their position at the top of the National League standings and make a deep postseason run.
The continuous struggle with injuries underscores the unpredictable nature of baseball and the importance of depth in a team's roster. For the Dodgers, adversity has been a constant companion this season, making their current standing all the more impressive. However, the road ahead is fraught with challenges that will test the resilience and ingenuity of both the players and the coaching staff. As the season progresses, the Dodgers will need to adapt and find new ways to succeed, despite the mounting obstacles.