Dodgers Face New Setback with River Ryan Injury
In a season marred by injuries, the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves grappling with yet another blow to their pitching roster. Rookie right-hander River Ryan exited Saturday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to forearm tightness, adding to the team’s ongoing turbulence.
Ryan’s departure came after pitching 4 2/3 innings and delivering 56 pitches. The young pitcher first experienced discomfort in his forearm during the third inning but attempted to mitigate the issue by using a massage gun between innings. Unfortunately, the tightness resurfaced in the fifth inning, forcing him out of the game.
The situation has left the Dodgers’ management and fans with concerns about Ryan's condition. "Hopefully we have some good news, and we'll see. Obviously, we've got to be careful with him. We'll know more tomorrow," said Manager Dave Roberts, reflecting the cautious optimism held by the team.
Ryan is scheduled to undergo further testing on Sunday, and the team has placed him on the injured list in the interim. Given Ryan’s history, this development is particularly disheartening. The pitcher had only recently returned to the mound after missing the first two months of the season due to a sore shoulder.
The Dodgers’ pitching rotation has been anything but stable this year. The team has cycled through 17 different starting pitchers, a testament to the relentless injury plague they have faced. Notable among these is Bobby Miller, who spent two months sidelined with shoulder inflammation. Upon his return, Miller struggled to find his form, posting an 8.07 ERA over seven major-league starts before being demoted. Even in Triple-A, his performance has been rocky, with a 5.82 ERA and nearly as many walks (16) as strikeouts (17) in five starts.
Ryan, acquired in a minor trade from the San Diego Padres for utility man Matt Beaty in March 2022, has been one of the bright spots in a beleaguered rotation. His 1.33 ERA in his four MLB starts this year has been impressive, earning him the No. 10 prospect ranking in the Dodgers' system by Baseball America in their midseason update.
The Dodgers’ overall performance has also seen a dip recently. With a record standing at 68-49, the team has gone 17-18 over their last 35 games, causing their NL West lead to shrink from 8.5 games on July 23 to just 2.5 games. This is a concerning trend for a team with postseason aspirations.
Manager Dave Roberts did not hide his apprehension about Ryan’s situation. "But obviously, when you see a guy go on his forearm, it's always disconcerting," he said, acknowledging the gravity of forearm injuries for pitchers.
As the Dodgers await further news on Ryan’s condition, the team and its fans will undoubtedly be on edge. With the season’s end approaching and the competition tightening, every game and every player’s health becomes increasingly crucial to their success. The Dodgers will need their pitching roster to stabilize if they hope to maintain their standing and push deep into the playoffs.