The Los Angeles Dodgers are in their final stretch of games prior to the All-Star break, and have a starting rotation that faces a bit of uncertainty. Kenta Maeda’s role is hardly solidified, Hyun-Jin Ryu is set for a bone scan, and Brandon McCarthy remains on the 10-day disabled list.
He went down with tendinitis in his right knee, but the DL move also came one day after McCarthy lost command in the second inning of his start against the Colorado Rockies. Multiple pitches sailed to the backstop, evoking memories of last season’s yips.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and McCarthy downplayed the incident, with neither believing it was to the level of last year’s troubles.
McCarthy will in some sense get to put that notion to the test on Monday as he’s scheduled to throw a simulated game against High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes hitters, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Roberts also said that Brandon McCarthy, struggling again with his command, will throw a four-inning simulated game on Monday at Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga to gauge his progress.
Roberts recently said the team did not have a timeline for the right-hander’s return, though did surmise a bullpen session and subsequent simulated game would lend to some clarity. At the time of putting McCarthy on the disabled list, Roberts projected a return within “10 or 11 days.”
McCarthy is eligible to be activated Thursday, which would answer some questions for the Dodgers in terms of starters for a weekend series against the Kansas City Royals.
On the season, the 33-year-old is 6-3 with a 3.25 ERA, 3.19 FIP and 1.11 WHIP in 13 starts this season.
