Dodgers trade deadline acquisition hits IL as pitching staff curse looms large

The Los Angeles Dodgers thought they got one of the trade deadline's biggest steals, reuniting with old friend Brock Stewart, who has been putting together a truly dominant season while their rivals paid much higher prices for flashier names.

Unfortunately, that taste of victory was short-lived, as the club received news that has felt far too familiar recently. According to manager Dave Roberts, the 33-year-old righty is hitting the IL with shoulder inflammation.

For the Dodgers, this is a huge blow as Stewart served as their biggest acquisition in what was otherwise a quiet trade deadline. Considering the bullpen was already struggling, this latest development is big-time bad news, but it also brings to light an even bigger issue with the Dodgers and their pitching staff. It almost feels as if they are cursed.

Brock Stewart hitting the IL further shows how cursed the Dodgers' pitching staff really is

The unfortunate reality for the Dodgers is that pitching injuries have become far too common in recent years. It's almost easier to name which arms aren't currently on the shelf instead of the ones that are currently on the mend.

As it stands, Los Angeles has five injured starting pitchers, ranging from Roki Sasaki with a shoulder impingement to guys like River Ryan and Kyle Hurt, who are working their way back from 2025 Tommy John surgeries. In addition to the wounded starters, Stewart's addition to the IL brings the total of relievers currently out of action to seven, giving the Dodgers essentially an entire second pitching staff that is currently hurt.

This truly begs the question: what is going on with LA's hurlers? Is it a curse? Are they just targeting injury-prone pitchers? Or is there something more at play?

In reality, it's likely a combination of factors. Earlier in the year, the Dodgers lost their two aces, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, to the same injury, a somewhat stunning turn of events until you consider that both of these stars have injury histories that are a mile long.

Other players, however, previously had clean bills of health before making it to Los Angeles. That would lead one to believe that the Dodgers have an issue with the way they develop and prepare their pitchers, leading to so many untimely injuries.

The smart move would be for the organization to take a long and hard look at not only their training staff, but their whole pitching development apparatus in the offseason. They have been blessed with depth for sure, but over time, they cannot keep coming out on top in this war of attrition on the mound.

Something needs to be done to break the curse, and Andrew Friedman needs to respond with more than just optimism if the Dodgers are to put these chronic pitching injury woes behind them for good.