The Los Angeles Dodgers' pitching struggles have been a prominent theme this season, and the recent developments surrounding rookie right-hander River Ryan have only added to their woes. Ryan, who recently joined the list of injured starters, saw his season abruptly end following a short outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ryan's Promising Start Cut Short
In his Saturday night start against the Pirates, Ryan managed just 4 2/3 innings before being sidelined by forearm tightness. "Ryan's season is officially over," confirmed Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. The promising rookie first felt discomfort in his forearm during the third inning, attempting to manage the pain with a massage gun between innings, but to no avail.
The injury is a significant blow to both Ryan and the Dodgers. Although he joined the team from the San Diego Padres in March 2022 in a minor trade for Matt Beaty, Ryan quickly made an impact. In his four starts this season, he boasted an impressive 1.33 ERA, earning him the distinction of being ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the Dodgers’ system by Baseball America.
Persistent Injuries Hamper Dodgers' Rotation
Ryan's injury adds to a mounting list of pitching concerns for the Dodgers. The team has utilized a league-leading 17 different starting pitchers this season, a testament to the challenges they’ve faced in maintaining a healthy rotation. The rookie had already missed the first two months of the season due to a sore shoulder, further highlighting the Dodgers’ struggle to keep their players on the mound.
One of the more notable absences came from Bobby Miller, who lost two months earlier this year to shoulder inflammation. Unfortunately, Miller has not yet reclaimed his form, with an 8.07 ERA in seven big-league starts this season and a 5.82 ERA in Triple-A, accompanied by a troubling ratio of nearly equal walks to strikeouts. Landon Knack has been called up to fill Ryan’s roster slot, but the lack of depth remains a critical issue for the Dodgers.
Struggles Reflected in Standings
Despite holding a 68-49 record, which currently ranks as the second-best in the National League, the Dodgers' recent performance has been inconsistent. Over the last 35 games, they’ve posted a 17-18 record, causing their NL West lead to shrink from 8.5 games on July 23 to just 2.5 games. The team’s current standing reflects the broader challenges they face, particularly in stabilizing their pitching staff as they endeavor to secure a playoff position.
The Dodgers are in a precarious situation. Their early-season dominance has given way to a period of uncertainty as injuries continue to erode their pitching depth. As the playoffs loom, the onus falls on the remaining staff and the incoming replacements to step up and fill the void left by injured players like River Ryan. The path forward won’t be easy, but the Dodgers' resilience will be put to the test in the coming weeks.
Only time will tell if the Dodgers can navigate these turbulent waters and return to their winning ways, but for now, their focus remains on shoring up a rotation that has seen far too much flux this season.