Birdman’s MRI Results Come Back Clean, Dodgers Relieved

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The Dodgers and their fans breathed a collective sigh of relief on Monday afternoon, after Birdman Zack Greinke’s MRI results came back clean. The former CY Young award winner began experiencing stiffness in the back of his right elbow on March 3. Greinke missed a bullpen session because of the injury ten days ago, and then missed a start five days ago. Finally he was scratched from his scheduled start this afternoon, and was ordered to fly to Los Angeles to have his right elbow examined by team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

Greinke recieved an injection and should be back on the mpund in a few days.-Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The MRI results confirmed what previous MRI results from ten days ago also confirmed. Greinke’s elbow is just fine. There is no structural or ligament damage of any kind. The diagnosis at the moment is just general soreness. Hey it happens right? Greinke was given a Platelet injection and told to rest his right elbow. He will begin throwing again in two to three days.

Greinke has said that he dealt with elbow issues in the past, but that it’s never kept him from a regular season start before. The right hander is scheduled to start on April second, the day after opening day against the evil Giants. Hopefully this doesn’t affect that expected start. Even so we do still have the surplus of starters, just in case.

Greinke has always been extremely durable over the years. He has never missed time for an arm problem. The only time he has ever missed any kind of time at all, was when he hurt himself playing Basketball during one off-season a couple of years ago. Birdman has pitched 200 or more innings in four of the last five seasons.

We are all very happy to hear the good news, but Greinke’s condition is still concerning. He hasn’t pitched much at all this spring. Greinke has only made two starts, pitching five innings. Meanwhile, Hyun-jin Ryu made the start in his place, and pitched four innings of work this afternoon against the Brewers at Maryvale Park.