Dodgers reveal double dose of crushing injury news as roster takes another hit

The Dodgers have five relievers on the IL, all of them proven backend bullpen arms — Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen, and Brusdar Graterol — and LA has been suffering in late innings because of it.

And it got worse on Friday night. Dave Roberts revealed ahead of the Dodgers' World Series rematch against the Yankees that Phillips, who has been on and off the IL since before the year even began, will undergo Tommy John surgery on June 4, putting an end to his season.

Phillips initially went onto the IL on March 17 with a rotator cuff strain, then returned after over a month on April 19. He pitched just 5 2/3 innings (all scoreless) between then and May 5, and then he went back onto the 15-IL again on May 7. He's been missing in action ever since.

There's been little clarity on a potential timeline, but Roberts said earlier this week, "It's starting to get a little concerning. I don’t know how long we can give it until he can attempt to start playing catch again. I'm getting a little kind of concerned, but hoping for the best."

Maybe Roberts should've crossed his fingers behind his back to prevent that jinx.

Dave Roberts' Evan Phillips to undergo Tommy John, Mookie Betts out of lineup

Oh yeah, and did you miss the little tidbit that Mookie Betts was going to be out of tonight's lineup after being scratched? Betts stubbed his toe at his home on Wednesday night and will now undergo x-rays after it was determined he couldn't play Friday.

We've all been there but ... come on man. Can't wait to find out Sunday that this is a broken toe and Betts will miss significant time. These injuries are starting to get objectively ridiculous. Dodgers fans will hold their breath as they wait for the news on Betts, but their bullpen is effectively in shambles.

Phillips was looking for a bounce back year after putting up a 3.62 ERA in 54 2/3 innings last year. He dealt with other injuries and was kind of demoted from the closer role when the Dodgers acquired Kopech at the trade deadline. The Dodgers were always hesitant to name an official closer last year, but Phillips was conspicuously moved up into earlier innings as the Dodgers got deeper into the season.

This surgery is likely to keep him out until late next season, if he pitches in 2026 at all.

There's still little clarity on Kopech, Treinen, and Graterol's progressions, but the Dodgers did offer some good news before they dropped the bombshell about Phillips; Yates is throwing off of a bullpen mound and told reporters that he hasn't felt discomfort in his hamstring since going down.

If the Dodgers were exploring early relief options to pursue at the deadline, they're going to need to accelerate now that Phillips is done for the year. So much for a quiet trade deadline.