Hours after the Los Angeles Dodgers placed Zach McKinstry on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, they potentially began a stretch of being without Corey Knebel as well.
He entered in the ninth inning of an eventual 6-1 loss to the San Diego Padres, but threw only five pitches before being removed due to injury. Knebel’s final throw to the plate was a fastball yanked in the dirt for ball four.
He immediately began wincing and took a slow walk around the mound before being met by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer. “He’s going to get some testing [Saturday] morning. It was kind of the upper tricep of his arm,” Roberts said after the game. “I’m optimistic, but we just won’t know until [Saturday].”
Roberts added Knebel felt some discomfort and a “sensation or something in his upper tricep.” If there’s any potential silver lining, it wasn’t as though Knebel attempted to pitch through the apparent injury.
“Obviously with a pitcher, you feel something that’s not normal, it’s a red flag. He was smart enough to get out there in that point in time,” Roberts said.
The appearance was Knebel’s first since facing the Padres at Petco Park last Friday. He allowed two runs on three hits and retired only two of six batters faced before being replaced by Kenley Jansen. It marked the first hits and runs Knebel allowed this season.
Roberts said the long layoff between appearances was not injury-related. “Pitchers going deep and there just wasn’t really a spot for him,” he explained. “With his regular work that he’s been having, it was a priority to get him into [Friday’s] game. He warmed up really well, the ball was coming out really well too. There were no signs of it.”
Barnes disappointed for Knebel
Having worked his way back from Tommy John surgery in 2019, Knebel was ecstatic with his health and success for the Dodgers. That sentiment extended to his teammates, which made Friday’s scene difficult for Austin Barnes to take in.
“I didn’t even want to go out to the mound and see what was wrong,” he said. “The pitch was weird, obviously. He yanked a fastball. I picked it up and trainers were going out there. He’s such a good guy and was throwing the ball so well.
“I love having him in the clubhouse. Hopefully he’s alright. I’m not sure what happened with him yet, but hopefully he comes back soon.”
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