LOS ANGELES — In another day of tangible progress for several injured Dodgers pitchers, a key reliever joined the group that is moving closer to a return.
Right-hander Blake Treinen threw sinkers and four-seam fastballs in a bullpen session that marked a promising step after his original ominous diagnosis of right forearm tightness on April 20.
“There’s still some hurdles to get to and get past, and as of right now, I feel like everything’s been going really smoothly,” Treinen said. “It’s been quite the blessing, based on what the original prognosis was. I’m excited. I feel good about the process coming back.”
Treinen’s bullpen follows one in San Diego during the week. And while he is not dealing with much pain, he still is searching for a feeling of structural integrity in his pitching arm.
“It’s probably where it needs to be right now, and that’s the best way I can word it,” Treinen said. “All I know is how I feel right now is right where it needs to be. The bullpen results today were really good. So just continuing to take each day one step at a time.”
On the rotation side, right-hander Tyler Glasnow threw live batting practice to minor league hitters for the first time since he went down with shoulder inflammation in late April. Left-hander Blake Snell, out since April with his own shoulder inflammation, threw a bullpen.
“The velocity was there, the swing-and-miss, the delivery,” Manager Dave Roberts said of Glasnow. “Talking to him after, he was really excited. There’ll be another simulated game, two innings, next week. Not sure exactly which day. But we’re very encouraged. I thought the stuff was really good, and Tyler was pretty excited.”
Snell’s bullpen was all fastballs.
“I think he got to 20, 25 pitches and it was crispy, it was good,” Roberts said of Snell. “Really good. I’m not sure what his next one is, but he came out of it really well which is exciting for all of us. I’m sure the next one we’ll probably start incorporating some spin.”
BITE-SIZED PORTIONS
After Shohei Ohtani threw a 44-pitch live batting practice session on Tuesday, a three-inning batting practice session is set for an undetermined date in the near future.
And since he will not be headed out for a minor league rehab assignment, the Dodgers might be open to a unique arrangement upon his return.
The club is mulling a plan where Ohtani would be ready to return with a two-inning limit at the outset. But that would be after he reaches top velocity in his recovery to go along with adding his complete arsenal of pitches.
“But that’s not set in stone,” Roberts said. “I think anything that we can get from Shohei on the mound is additive. But I do think that there’s a build-up part of it. You want to make sure that you’re using all your pitches and (complete) the recovery.
“What that looks like when he does take the mound for us, I can’t speak to that right now. But there’s still a progression that we’re trying to get to and make sure he feels comfortable.”
NEXT MAN UP
As promising as the day was for some of the club’s pitching stars, none of them are as close to returning as right-hander Emmet Sheehan.
In fact, Sheehan’s next outing could be in the major leagues after he gave up four runs on six hits over 3⅓ innings on Thursday for Triple-A Oklahoma City against Albuquerque.
“I think the stuff was better than the line score,” Roberts said. “Whether he needs another one there or he joins us, I think internally we’re going to make that final decision here in the next day or two.”
Sheehan, 25, hasn’t pitched since the final week of the 2023 season and has been on the mend from Tommy John surgery. In 13 appearances (11 starts) in 2023, he was 4-1 with a 4.92 ERA.
RIVAL RUMBLE
Clayton Kershaw has faced the San Francisco Giants more than any other club in his storied major league career and another matchup is set to take place Saturday.
Kershaw has faced the Dodgers’ biggest rival 60 times in his career, 10 more times than he has taken the mound against the Colorado Rockies, the next closest club. In 397⅓ innings, he has a mind-boggling 2.04 ERA to go along with a 26-16 record. His 418 strikeouts are nearly 100 more than the next closest club.
“It’s going to be great having Clayton pitch against those guys here at Dodger Stadium,” Roberts said. “He’s thrown some really good ballgames against those guys. He always gets up for playing the Giants and I think on the heels of him throwing the baseball the way he did the last time, I think he’s really encouraged.”
That last time was in St. Louis on Sunday, when he gave up one run on six hits in five innings while earning his first win since Aug. 8 of last season.
UP NEXT
Giants (RHP Landen Roupp, 4-4, 3.29 ERA) at Dodgers (LHP Clayton Kershaw, 1-0, 4.35 ERA), Saturday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM