On Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers placed right-handed starter Brandon McCarthy on the disabled list due to soreness in his non-throwing shoulder.
That seems like a fairly minor issue, except for two things: The Dodgers are in second place in the National League West, 2 1/2 games back of the Colorado Rockies; and they now have an entire rotation on the DL. Yes, really. Take a look:
- Rich Hill: blister
- Scott Kazmir: strained hip
- McCarthy: shoulder
- Hyun-jin Ryu: hip contusion
- Brock Stewart: shoulder tendinitis.
Kazmir and Stewart have yet to pitch this season, while Ryu and McCarthy have gotten hurt in May. Hill, meanwhile, continues to rehab -- though who knows if and when he'll suffer another flare-up.
Those injuries have tested the Dodgers' depth, causing them to dig into the minors for Julio Urias and into the bullpen for Alex Wood. Those injuries have probably also created a sense of deja vu for any and everyone who remembers how dire things got in L.A. last year. The good news, thus far anyway, is that Clayton Kershaw has stayed healthy. The bad news is the Dodgers are nearing the point where they'll have to ask an undesirable to step into the rotation. For reference, their Triple-A rotation includes somewhat familiar names, like Jair Jurrjens and Justin Masterson -- each of whom have pitched well.
Of course, the Dodgers' injury woes are part and parcel with their strategy of employing injury-prone arms -- Hill and McCarthy in particular. It's no wonder why Andrew Friedman, Farhan Zaidi, and the rest of the front office has made it a point to acquire as many pitchers as possible.
At the moment, the Dodgers seem likely to use a lot of them to keep afloat until (if?) their rotation is hearty and hale once more.
