The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen has lost several key contributors to injury at various points this season, and nearly had another go down when Brusdar Graterol was removed after throwing just four pitches on Thursday night.
Graterol pointed to his ribcage area while being checked on by Dodgers trainer Nate Lucero. He walked off the field and was said to have come out due to right side soreness. Manager Dave Roberts relayed that Graterol expressed feeling a cramp.
The Dodgers anticipated learning more on Friday, including whether or not Graterol would require a stint on the 15-day injured list. Roberts was hopeful that wouldn’t be the case, and the right-hander cleared that hurdle.
“Brusdar from the catch play, he was letting it rip,” Roberts said before Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. “So it’s not going to be an IL situation. He’s in a good spot.”
Graterol was unavailable for the second game of the series with the Cubs, but due to just having completed a span of pitching four times in six days, rather than concern for potential injury.
“As far as where he’s at physically, he’s great,” Roberts added.
Graterol has pitched to a 3.52 ERA and 1.02 WHIp to go along with 34 strikeouts over 38.1 innings this season. With Daniel Hudson out for the season, and Blake Treinen and Tommy Kahnle not close to returning, Graterol has become an important member of the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Dodgers utilizing Graterol in multiple roles
Because of injuries to Hudson, Kahnle and Treinen, and Craig Kimbrel at times being unavailable, the Dodgers have deployed Graterol in a multitude of scenarios. That’s included as a closer, and he’s converted two of three save opportunities thus far.
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