Dodgers Face Another Setback as River Ryan Exits with Severe Injury
The Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation woes took a significant hit on Saturday night. Rookie right-hander River Ryan departed their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to forearm tightness, an ailment that has since been revealed to be far more severe than initially anticipated.
Ryan first experienced discomfort in his forearm during the third inning. Despite using a massage gun to mitigate the pain between innings, the tightness persisted and intensified, finally forcing Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts to pull him off the mound in the fifth inning.
“He has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter,” said Baseball America, reflecting the high hopes the Dodgers held for their young pitcher. Unfortunately, the immediate diagnosis led to Ryan being placed on the injured list the following day. Subsequent tests confirmed the worst-case scenario: a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing elbow, necessitating Tommy John surgery.
This devastating injury ends Ryan's 2024 season and likely sidelines him until the latter part of 2025, if not the entirety of it. Ryan, who had already missed the season's first two months due to a sore shoulder, had only recently made his debut earlier this year. The Dodgers had expected him to be a significant contributor down the stretch and into the postseason.
The Dodgers' rotation has been beleaguered by injuries throughout the season. Bobby Miller missed significant time with shoulder inflammation and struggled upon his return. Miller posted a dismal 8.07 ERA in seven major league starts before being demoted to Triple-A, where he continued to struggle with a 5.82 ERA and nearly as many walks (16) as strikeouts (17) over five starts.
To cope with Ryan's sudden exit and the ongoing rotation issues, the Dodgers called up right-handed pitcher Landon Knack. However, the challenge remains daunting for Roberts and his coaching staff as they attempt to piece together a viable rotation for the postseason. So far this season, the Dodgers have used 17 different starting pitchers, the most in all of baseball.
Even though the Dodgers are currently holding the best record in the National League at 70-49, with the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres trailing them by just 3 1/2 games, the immediate focus will be on preserving the health of their remaining rotation options. Careful management of innings and preventative measures are expected to be key strategies moving forward.
Despite the setbacks, the Dodgers aim to maintain their dominant position in the National League standings. The relentless hit to their pitching staff adds another layer of complexity to their journey, but the resolve within the organization is expected to be unwavering.
As fans watch closely, the Dodgers' ability to navigate this turbulent period will be crucial in determining how far they can go in the postseason. With continued resilience and a little luck, Los Angeles still hopes to make a deep run despite the adversities they've encountered.
Stay tuned as the Dodgers strategize to maximize their talent depth and manage the physical toll on their players, all while aiming to hold on to their lead in the tightly contested National League.