Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Garcia, Jansen, and Injury Updates

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 28: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the ninth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium on May 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. MLB players across the league are wearing special uniforms to commemorate Memorial Day. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 28: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the ninth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium on May 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. MLB players across the league are wearing special uniforms to commemorate Memorial Day. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The Dodgers were able to come back from being no-hit and a 4-0 deficit to defeat the Phillies 5-4 on Monday night.  The game featured a little bit of luck as the Kiké Hernandez hit a pop fly to second baseman Cesar Hernandez that was lost in the lights and allowed the Dodgers to have runners on the corners with nobody out.  Max Muncy tied the game on a dribbler back to pitcher Luis Garcia who bobbled the ball and allowed a run to score with Muncy being safe at first base.  Matt Kemp continued his hot start to the season with a pinch-hit RBI double and Yasmani Grandal’s single past shortstop Scott Kingery gave the Dodgers the lead for good.

Kenley Jansen had an interesting 1-2-3 inning as Rhys Hoskins fouled a ball off his mouth with two strikes.  Pedro Florimón pinch-hit with two strikes and was eventually struck out by Jansen to give the Dodgers a 5-4 victory.  Although the Dodgers didn’t gain ground on the Rockies they did pass the Giants to move into third place.  The Dodgers have now won nine of their last eleven games.

Other notes…

  • Tom Koehler continues to progress as he once again threw pitches off the mound in the bullpen.  While Koehler has not thrown a real bullpen session yet he is continuing to trend in the right direction and is on pace to return sometime in July.  While Koehler may not return before the All-Star break he figures to return right after the break as long as he does not have any setbacks.
  • Hyun-Jin Ryu also continues to

    progress

    as was long tossing in the outfield prior to Monday night’s game.  Ryu was originally projected to be out two months and a July return still seems the most likely scenario given how tricky it can be to return from groin injuries.  Even once his groin is fully healed, Ryu will still need to pitch in two to three rehab starts to build back up his endurance and velocity.

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    Alex Verdugo returned to the OKC Dodgers lineup on Monday and went 2-4 with two singles.  Verdugo had missed the prior five games as he rolled his ankle making a throw from the outfield.  Verdugo was the designated hitter but he should make a return to the outfield in the next day or two.  Verdugo has been hitting in the middle of the OKC lineup and is hitting over .300 for the Triple-A Dodgers.

    Edward Paredes was optioned to Triple-A and Yimi Garcia was recalled on Monday.  Yimi Garcia appeared in Monday’s game and pitched two shutout innings striking out two and allowing no base runners.  Garcia appears to be healthy once again as his fastball was in the mid 90’s and topped out at 97 miles per hour.  Yimi was a part of the Dodgers strong bullpen effort that pitched five shutout innings on Monday night was starter Brock Stewart went just four innings.

    Closer Kenley Jansen appears to be in mid-season form finally as he pitched another 1-2-3 inning to make himself 9-9 in May save opportunities.  Jansen has lowered his ERA to 2.66 and is once again hitting 93-95 miles per hour with his cutter which is another sign that he has finally rounded into form.

    Next: Buehler vs Kershaw Thru Seven Starts

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