Dodgers dealt another bullpen surgery blow days before MLB playoffs begin

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Brock Stewart is undergoing season-ending surgery, per a report from Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. The right-hander, who has been on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation since the middle of August, evidently suffered a setback in his recovery.

Stewart threw a bullpen on Wednesday but felt residual soreness. At the time, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he was still "pitchable" and categorized his injury status as "day-to-day." Two days later, Stewart's season is done. The Dodgers have not announced a timeline for his return, and it is not known whether he will be fully recovered in time for spring training in 2026.

It's a brutal blow to the Dodgers, who traded for Stewart at the deadline in hopes that he could provide bullpen depth for their playoff push. He ended up pitching in just four games for Los Angeles before ultimately being shut down for the year.

Devastating Brock Stewart injury update adds to Dodgers' bullpen struggles

The Dodgers acquired Stewart at the trade deadline from the Minnesota Twins, shipping out outfielder James Outman in return. Stewart had a 2.38 ERA with the Twins this season but posted a 4.91 ERA through his four appearances (3 2/3 innings) for the Dodgers before going on the IL.

Despite his struggles before going on the IL, Stewart would have been a welcome addition to the Dodgers' struggling bullpen in October. All of their conventional relief options have struggled down the stretch – Blake Treinen and Tanner Scott chief among them – and Stewart joins a lengthy list of Dodgers relievers who were already on the IL.

The Dodgers' bullpen has become a chronic liability, and they have reached the level of desperation at which they are auditioning starters Roki Sasaki and Clayton Kershaw for October relief roles in an effort to mitigate the damage.

Heading into the postseason, the Dodgers' bullpen is a hodgepodge of untested rookies, relievers with career-worst numbers and guys coming off of lengthy IL stints. Stewart's 4.91 ERA, by comparison, would have been an upgrade.

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