The Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation woes deepened significantly as they lost promising rookie River Ryan to injury during Saturday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ryan's early exit marked another blow to a team that has already been struggling to keep its pitchers healthy throughout the season.
Midway through the contest, Ryan began experiencing tightness in his forearm, an issue that first surfaced in the third inning. Attempting to push through, he used a massage gun to alleviate some pain in the hope of maintaining his spot on the mound. Nevertheless, the discomfort proved persistent, forcing Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts to remove Ryan from the game by the fifth inning.
What initially seemed like a minor ailment quickly escalated into a full-blown crisis. An immediate diagnosis placed Ryan on the injured list by the following day. Subsequent examinations revealed a torn UCL in his throwing elbow, which necessitates Tommy John surgery. This devastating injury not only concludes Ryan's 2024 season but is also likely to sideline him for most, if not all, of 2025.
The blow is particularly hard-hitting as River Ryan had just made his Major League debut earlier this year. The Dodgers had high hopes for the rookie right-hander, who was widely regarded as having the potential to be a mid-rotation starter, according to Baseball America. However, his debut season has been overwhelmingly marred by injuries. He already missed the season's first two months due to a sore shoulder, making this latest setback all the more disheartening for both Ryan and the Dodgers.
Ryan is not the only Dodgers pitcher to have struggled with injuries this season. Fellow pitcher Bobby Miller also missed a significant portion of the season due to shoulder inflammation. Upon his return, Miller couldn't find his form, recording an 8.07 ERA in seven major league starts before being demoted. His performance in Triple-A didn’t offer much solace either, posting a 5.82 ERA along with nearly as many walks (16) as strikeouts (17) in five starts.
The Dodgers' rotation has become a revolving door, with the team calling upon 17 different starting pitchers this season — the most in baseball. This constant shuffle underscores the dire state of their pitching staff, forcing Manager Dave Roberts and his team to continually adapt and improvise.
To fill the gap left by Ryan, the Dodgers have called up right-handed pitcher Landon Knack. Knack now faces the daunting task of stepping into a team that holds the best record in the National League, boasting a 70-49 record. The Dodgers currently lead the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres by 3 1/2 games, adding additional pressure to maintain their top spot in the standings.
Despite these challenges, the Dodgers remain focused on preserving the health of their remaining pitchers while carefully managing innings for the postseason. Roberts and his staff find themselves with the unenviable task of piecing together a makeshift rotation capable of carrying the team through the final stretch of the season and into the playoffs.
As the Dodgers aim to fortify their hold on the top position within the National League, balancing pitching health and performance has become a precarious tightrope walk. While the loss of River Ryan is a significant setback, the resilience and depth of the Dodgers' roster will be put to the ultimate test as they navigate this season ridden with uncertainty and challenge.