The Dodgers positioned left-hander Anthony Banda on the 15-day injured checklist with a damaged hand yesterday — a shocking transfer provided that there was no prior indication of an harm situation that’d been plaguing the southpaw. Because it seems, Banda’s harm was self-inflicted. Supervisor Dave Roberts confirmed to the Dodgers beat final night time that the lefty sustained a hairline fracture after he hit “a stable object” out of frustration following a tough outing whereby he yielded a pair of runs on three hits in a single inning of labor throughout a loss to the Cubs (video hyperlink through Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain). Banda is hardly the primary participant to injure himself in such a way, however that certainly doesn’t make the situation any much less irritating for the Dodgers and their followers.
That’s significantly true provided that whereas the 31-year-old Banda is a journeyman who joined the Dodgers in a minor league commerce with the Guardians (in trade for money), he’s turn out to be an necessary piece of the crew’s reduction corps. In 47 1/3 innings this yr, the previous high prospect has notched a career-low 3.23 earned run common with a 24.8% strikeout price (one other career-best mark) towards an 8.9% stroll price that’s proper in step with the 9% league common amongst relievers.
Banda initially labored in low-leverage conditions after being chosen to the 40-man roster in L.A., however he’s earned extra belief from Roberts because the season has worn on. He’s picked up 9 holds and a pair of saves, almost all of which have come within the season’s second half. Michael Kopech has emerged because the Dodgers’ highest-leverage arm since being acquired on the commerce deadline, however Banda ranks second on the crew in holds for the reason that All-Star break.
The Dodgers can nonetheless management Banda through arbitration for an additional three seasons in the event that they select, so the harm doesn’t essentially spell the tip of his time with the crew. It could not even spell the tip of his season. Roberts mentioned that for now, the plan is for a number of days with out throwing, however the skipper didn’t rule out the chance that Banda may very well be constructed again up in time to rejoin the crew in some unspecified time in the future. Clearly, if the Dodgers go on a deep postseason run, Banda’s probabilities of contributing once more this season will solely improve.
There are additionally questions on one other bullpen choice’s potential to contribute this yr, although they’ve been properly documented and don’t come as an enormous shock. Proper-hander Tony Gonsolin underwent Tommy John surgical procedure late final August, which all the time made him a protracted shot to contribute this season. The Dodgers nonetheless haven’t firmly closed the door on the opportunity of Gonsolin returning, but it surely more and more seems to be like a protracted shot. Roberts, who left the door open for a possible bullpen position for Gonsolin when requested concerning the chance final month, informed reporters yesterday that it’s “unlikely” Gonsolin will contribute this season (hyperlink through Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic).
Basic supervisor Brandon Gomes wouldn’t make a agency declaration, saying Gonsolin’s 2024 standing is “TBD” whereas concurrently acknowledging that the first focus at this level is “constructing a basis” for subsequent season (X thread through Invoice Plunkett of the Orange County Register). That actually doesn’t sound like a portent for a 2024 return, however Gomes didn’t expressly rule out the chance, suggesting that if “issues line up” they may “have a dialog” about Gonsolin returning.
Whereas issues are up within the air concerning Gonsolin’s standing, it appears the Dodgers are more and more optimistic that high starter Tyler Glasnow will return in time for the playoffs. At present on the injured checklist with tendinitis in his proper elbow, Glasnow threw his full complement of pitches yesterday in his second bullpen session in every week’s time, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Instances. He’ll throw a simulated recreation on Friday and transfer to a rehab task if that goes properly. By way of Harris, Roberts mentioned that he appreciated what he noticed in Glasnow’s bullpen session and referred to as it a “precedence” to get him again into an enormous league recreation earlier than the common season attracts to an in depth.
If the Dodgers are capable of get Glasnow again, they may theoretically head into the playoffs with a rotation together with Glasnow, Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who seemed glorious in his personal return from the injured checklist this week.
