Andrew Heaney was highly impressive in his first two starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he was shut down with left shoulder discomfort and placed on the 10-day injured list April 20 and has yet to return.
The southpaw recently began a rehab assignment with a start this past Saturday against the Triple-A Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers affiliate). Heaney retired nine of 11 batters faced over three innings, allowing one run on two hits and collecting five strikeouts without issuing a walk.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said now Heaney is set to make his second rehab start this week and will need a third outing before the team considers activating him off the IL, via SportsNet LA:
“Andrew, I think he threw a ‘pen [Tuesday] in OKC. His next turn, I think is Thursday or Friday. It’s going to be four innings; four and 60 (pitches). After that, he’ll do another one at five innings, and we’ll see where we’re at after that third one.”
Heaney is scheduled as the Oklahoma City starter on Thursday and he will look to build on his success in his first outing where he retired the first seven batters before allowing a one-out single in the third inning.
He is also set to be followed by prospect Ryan Pepiot, who has made three starts for the Dodgers this season.
If all goes well, Heaney will make a third rehab start to continue stretching out before returning to the Dodgers rotation.
Blake Treinen resumes playing catch
The Dodgers lost a key member of their bullpen early in the season when Blake Treinen began dealing with right shoulder trouble.
They initially hoped Treinen would only miss a few days, but that changed when he was placed on the 10-day IL on April 22. Though, even then it was expected to be a short stint. It was later determined that Treinen would be out until after the All-Star Game, and there reportedly is no guarantee he would return at all in 2022.
The Dodgers have remained hopeful Treinen will pitch again this season, and that notion has been supported by the veteran reliever resuming throwing of late.
“He played catch, I think it was out to 60 feet,” Roberts said Sunday. “From what I hear, he came out of it well.”
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