Terrible week for the Los Angeles Dodgers, … even a terrible two months. Since the end of the first half of the season, the performance of the current MLB champions has been in free fall with large doses of embarrassment and disappointment for their great fans. Dave Roberts’ side lost the lead in the National League West to the San Diego Padres despite being 10 games behind two months ago.
Of the last 11 series, the Dodgers have lost six and four have been sweeps. Despite having the highest payroll in MLB, their offensive power has been limited and their pitching staff has been vulnerable from starters to relievers and closers. To add to the woes inside the Los Angeles Dodgers, news has come out that adds to that great ball of pessimism that has invaded Dodger Stadium and its surroundings.
The Dodgers’ injured list does not decrease
Dave Roberts has stated that his relief pitcher, and sometimes closer, Brusdar Graterol is still recovering from his shoulder surgery last November, so his future is uncertain for the current season. The right-handed pitcher, known for his ability to throw over 100 mph, is in a difficult moment of his career with six weeks remaining in the campaign, so it seems unlikely that he will appear this year.
Since joining the Dodgers in 2020, the Venezuelan has become a key piece of the bullpen, despite not being the strikeout pitcher many expected. Graterol has a 2.69 ERA in 173 2/3 innings between 2020 and 2023. His ability lies in inducing ground balls. However, injuries have been his Achilles’ heel, sending him to the injured list on multiple occasions prior to his labrum surgery.
When does Brusdar Graterol’s contract expire?
Graterol’s contract, worth $2.8 million for this season, remains under club control through arbitration for one more year. Although players who miss an entire season through injury often sign for the same amount the following year, the Dodgers, with their financial clout, will likely retain him in the hope of a healthy return in 2026.
Not everything is discouraging for the Dodgers’ bullpen. Michael Kopech, another right-hander, will begin a minor league rehab assignment after a shoulder injury and has recently shown flashes of his talent before again being hampered by knee inflammation that required surgery. With Kopech on the way back, the Dodgers hope their bullpen will regain strength. Although Graterol’s absence is a blow, the team is confident that its pitchers can maintain the competitive level that characterizes the franchise.
Read the full article here
