Dodgers' Injury Woes Continue as River Ryan Exits Early
The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit another bump in the road as their rotation suffered a fresh blow. Rookie right-hander River Ryan was forced to leave Saturday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates prematurely due to forearm tightness.
Ryan’s departure came after he pitched 4 2/3 innings, throwing a total of 56 pitches. The first signs of discomfort appeared in the third inning, prompting him to use a massage gun to loosen up between innings. However, the tightness returned in the fifth inning, leading to his exit from the game. “Hopefully we have some good news, and we'll see. Obviously, we've got to be careful with him. We'll know more tomorrow,” said Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts, highlighting the team’s cautious approach with their young pitcher. “But obviously, when you see a guy go on his forearm, it's always disconcerting,” he added.
This setback is particularly frustrating for Ryan, who had just recently rejoined the squad after missing the first two months of the season due to a shoulder issue. Now, the 25-year-old will be placed on the injured list and is set to undergo further testing on Sunday. His untimely departure is another blow to the Dodgers’ pitching staff, which has already seen a revolving door of starters this season. Astonishingly, the Dodgers have utilized 17 different starting pitchers so far.
Among them is Bobby Miller, another pitcher who had an extended stint on the sidelines with shoulder inflammation. Though Miller recently made a return to Triple-A, his performances have been less than stellar, clocking an 8.07 ERA in seven major-league starts before being demoted. His Triple-A numbers aren’t much better, featuring a 5.82 ERA with almost as many walks (16) as strikeouts (17) in five starts.
Ryan, who was acquired in a minor trade from the San Diego Padres in exchange for utility man Matt Beaty in March 2022, has shown promise during his brief MLB tenure this season. He posted a 1.33 ERA across his four starts, demonstrating both skill and potential. His efforts have not gone unnoticed, as Baseball America recently recognized him as the No. 10 prospect in the Dodgers' system in their midseason update.
The team’s recent struggles have been exacerbated by an unsettling slide in their performance. The Dodgers hold a 68-49 record but have stumbled to a 17-18 mark over their last 35 games. This slip has caused their once-comfortable lead in the NL West to shrink, dropping from an 8.5-game advantage on July 23 to just 2.5 games.
As the Dodgers await more information on Ryan’s condition, the team and its fans are left to ponder the implications of another rotation disruption. The bullpen and remaining starting pitchers will once again need to step up as the team navigates through its current rough patch, striving to maintain its position atop the division. With the stakes high and the margin for error shrinking, the Dodgers can ill afford to lose more key players to injury.
Manager Dave Roberts and the rest of the team will hold their breath, hoping for a swift and positive prognosis for River Ryan. Until then, they must continue adapting and regrouping, a testament to the resilience that has characterized much of their season.