Edgardo Henriquez avoids the worst, but Dodgers still making promises they can’t keep

The Los Angeles Dodgers are constantly hoping for the best for their injured players, despite some signs that they might not be themselves come October.

The National League West champions currently have back-to-back NL MVP Shohei Ohtani on the injured list, and Dave Roberts recently said that "he's feeling normal...ish" after reporting they are hoping to activate him when first eligible.

Former Cy Young Award-winner Blake Snell also is dealing with an injury, and the Dodgers are hoping for the best with him as well. First baseman Freddie Freeman is working through a knee injury that caused him to experience a major dip in production.

Freeman has looked more like himself in recent days, but the larger concern is the myriad contributors who are working their way back from injuries right before the playoffs. Dodgers fans should add the team's best reliever to that group of players that LA's coaching staff swears will be fine.

Edgardo Henriquez avoids the worst, but Dodgers still making promises they can’t keep

Edgardo Henriquez landed on the injured list last week with a low-grade back strain — the Dodgers correspondingly promoted Bobby Miller to the active roster — and it was reported that LA's right-hander has no structural damage. Unsurprisingly, the Dodgers still think he'll be back before the season ends!

Whether he could or he should, there is simply no way of knowing what the best path forward is for Henriquez and the Dodgers. Los Angeles needs him sharp and healthy once the calendar flips to October, but it seems that bringing him back before the playoffs will sacrifice one of those things.

Henriquez has been one of the best relievers in baseball this season, hands-down. He is one of 67 pitchers with 60-plus appearances this season -- of that group, Henriquez ranks 10th in FIP (2.52), fifth in batting average against (.177), second in slugging percentage (.239), fourth in OPS (.523), and is tied for first in home runs allowed (one).

While most fans assumed that Edwin Diaz and Tanner Scott would be the Dodgers most reliable relievers, the stats show that Henriquez and Alex Vesia have been far steadier coming out of the bullpen.

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