Dodgers: Corey Knebel leaves loss vs Padres with scary-looking arm injury

Injuries are completely ravaging the Los Angeles Dodgers at the moment. And now they’ve lost their last three against the San Diego Padres to trail the season series 3-2.

First it was Cody Bellinger. He’s on the injured list with a hairline fracture in his leg. Then came Gavin Lux. Then Zach McKinstry. All necessary cogs in the Dodgers’ well-oiled machine.

Admittedly, this team can get by without them in stretches, but it’s never easy in the early going when you’re trying to establish a rhythm.

Now, the bullpen has likely taken a major blow. Corey Knebel, who the Dodgers traded for this offseason in hopes of resurrecting his 2017 form, left Friday night’s loss to the Pads with a scary-looking arm injury.

Knebel, who had the last six days off, came on in relief in the ninth when the Dodgers were down 3-1. He threw just five pitches before wincing in pain on the mound and being removed from the game accompanied by the Dodgers’ training staff.

Given his past elbow troubles — he underwent Tommy John surgery right before the beginning of the 2019 season — the fact that he felt a “sensation” in his triceps after throwing that pitch is not a good sign … at all. We’ve seen other pitchers go down with triceps injuries only to learn soon after it’s a much more significant ailment.

Catcher Austin Barnes was so concerned that he couldn’t even stomach going to see what was wrong with the right-hander. Manager Dave Roberts didn’t sound optimistic at all about it when he spoke to reporters after the game, either.

Knebel was slowly getting his stuff back and looked as if he could be an integral member of the Dodgers’ bullpen, potentially adding more high-leverage, back end experience. His lone All-Star season in 2017 featured him as the Brewers’ closer during which he recorded a 1.78 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 126 strikeouts and 39 saves in 76 innings of work.

Dodgers fans will likely have more updates on the 29-year-old later today, assuming he underwent tests last night and this morning. Everyone’s hoping for the best, but unfortunately expecting the worst.

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