Although the Los Angeles Dodgers recently saw the return of Clayton Kershaw, their starting rotation remains without Tony Gonsolin, who was placed on the 15-day injured list at the end of August due to a right forearm strain.
Gonsolin underwent an MRI that didn’t reveal a more serious injury and was able to resume throwing following the scan.
After initially resting and playing catch from flat ground at 150 feet, the right-hander progressed to his first bullpen session prior to Sunday’s series finale against the San Diego Padres.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed that Gonsolin came out of it still experiencing soreness but won’t know more until he throws again on Wednesday, via SportsNet LA:
“He came out of it OK. I wouldn’t say I’m totally encouraged or discouraged. I think it’s kind of a day-to-day thing. He’s going to throw another bullpen on Wednesday, and we’ll see how that goes. … I just think that he didn’t come out of it feeling really great. There’s still some soreness in there.”
Even if Gonsolin continues to be plagued by soreness on Wednesday, Roberts doesn’t see a scenario in which the Dodgers shut him down for the season:
“I don’t think shutting him down is a consideration. I think where we’re at, we’re going to see how far we can get him to a spot where it makes sense that he could pitch. So right now we’re not there. … Right now I’m still confident, but obviously every day, every ‘pen that goes by that he’s not at full strength, it’s a little less confident. … I wouldn’t say it hurts, but he just doesn’t feel as strong as he feels he should be or as he has been in the past.”
With roughly three weeks remaining in the regular season, Gonsolin still has plenty of time to return and get right before the playoffs. But as Roberts said, that possibility decreases with each day that passes by.
Gonsolin was in the midst of a career year before landing on the IL, pitching to a 16-1 record with a 2.10 ERA, 3.34 FIP and 0.87 WHIP in a career-high 128.1 innings pitched.
Gonsolin participated in Dodgers dress-up day
Gonsolin was among the many Dodgers who dressed up for the team’s last flight of the regular season outside of California, going as Barnacle Boy from from “Spongebob Squarepants.”
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