The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Hyun-Jin Ryu from the 10-day disabled list and placed Kenta Maeda on the 10-day DL with left hamstring tightness. Ryu starts in the series opener against Colorado Rockies. Thursday was the first day he was eligible to come off the DL.
The 30-year-old sustained a left hip contusion while sliding into second base on April 30, which prompted the Dodgers to shelve him. While Ryu was placed on the disabled list, his injury was not deemed serious.
Ryu is 1-4 with a 4.05 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in five starts this season. After a rough beginning to the season, he’s allowed just one earned run in each of the past two outings, and at minimum pitched into the sixth inning in three straight starts.
Ryu’s time away also served as a de facto break that the organization is keen on providing to all starting pitchers not named Clayton Kershaw, and this marks the first time Maeda lands on the disabled list.
He’s less than 24 hours removed from tossing a career-high 8.1 innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. A two-run home run in the ninth inning by Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli spoiled a shutout attempt by Maeda in what was arguably the best start of his career.
The 29-year-old is 3-2 with a 5.03 ERA, 4.32 FIP and 1.17 WHIP in seven starts. Maeda has 40 strikeouts to nine walks over 39.1 innings pitched. He becomes the 18th different player the Dodgers have put on the disabled list this season.
The roster move alleviates the forthcoming crunch, as Brandon McCarthy and Rich Hill are expected to return and start on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
