The Los Angeles Dodgers have absorbed a rash of injuries this season but may soon be getting closer to full strength. Cody Bellinger and Zach McKinstry have been on rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City since last Friday and could be activated this weekend.
Tony Gonsolin is also making rehab starts and Brusdar Graterol may soon join Oklahoma City as well. Scott Alexander and Garrett Cleavinger are on the injured list as well, but are behind their teammates.
Alexander has been sidelined since May 6 due to left shoulder inflammation. “He’s in Arizona, he’s on a throwing program,” manager Dave Roberts said.
“I know he is not throwing to hitters yet. Once he does get that, we’re going to send him on a rehab assignment. Once he gets out to rehab we’ll have a better idea of where he’s at.”
Roberts previously indicated Alexander’s recovery was advancing slower than the club anticipated. “We’re trying to get that inflammation out,” Roberts said on May 14. “We thought initially it was going to be a shorter term play, but it’s obviously turning out to be longer. He’s a two or three weeks out from joining us.”
Meanwhile, Cleavinger landed on the IL on May 18 because of left forearm inflammation. “Garrett is kind of on the same program (as Alexander),” Roberts said.
“Once he gets the inflammation out, the soreness, he’ll go out on rehab. For both those guys, I would expect them to have to be out on rehab for at least a week. So we still have time to kind of evaluate.”
Roberts recently suggested Cleavinger’s injury would not be something that kept the left-hander out for a significant stretch. “It’s on the outside of the forearm, so it’s not anything as far as ulnar,” Roberts explained.
“It’s something that hasn’t happened with Garrett, but we just wanted to be cautious. I don’t expect it to be a long-term thing. I know Garrett was disappointed, but we appreciate his honesty with his discomfort. Hopefully it won’t be longterm.”
Graterol throws bullpen session
As planned, Graterol threw a bullpen session before Tuesday’s game at Minute Maid Park. It was a second time Graterol was on the mound since his IL stint because or right forearm inflammation.
Assuming Graterol does not suffer any sort of setback, he could report to Oklahoma City for the start of a rehab assignment this weekend.
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