Michael Kopech injury piles on Dodgers' problems with trade deadline plan

After starting the season on the IL with a shoulder impingement, missing over two months of the regular season, and undergoing a rocky rehab assignment, Michael Kopech was finally reactivated on June 7. It should have lent some relief to a bullpen that's still missing Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, and will be without Evan Phillips for the rest of the season, but the Dodgers treaded lightly with Kopech, and he only pitched seven innings in June.

They were probably worried about his shoulder and the mixed results they saw from his rehab assignment, but it seems like there could've been another underlying issue. On Tuesday, the Dodgers moved Kopech back to the 15-day IL, this time with knee inflammation. Will Klein was called back up as the corresponding move.

Ahead of the Dodgers' series opener against the Nationals, Kopech tried to ease fears. He said that he received an injection to address his pain, and scans he'd already undergone didn't show signs of structural damage. He "mostly didn't want to compensate with his drive leg and possibly lead to arm issues."

Okay, so maybe Kopech just needs a bit of a rest, but the Dodgers were just starting to see light on the other side of the tunnel with their pitching injuries, only for Kopech to go down again.

Michael Kopech goes back onto Dodgers' IL with knee inflammation

With Kopech back, the bullpen looked more or less like it was supposed to on Opening Day. Kopech, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Alex Vesia, and Anthony Banda were all finally healthy. The Dodgers expected to be without Graterol from the beginning, and Treinen going down was a blow, but LA was finally, kind of, okay — especially with supplementary pieces like Jack Dreyer and Lou Trivino exceeding expectations, and Justin Wrobleski finding his footing in a hybrid role.

But just like last year, the Dodgers always seem to have two roster spots eternally occupied by guys that fans will forget were on the roster by this time next year. Right now, it's Noah Davis and Will Klein, both of whom have been up and down more times than anyone can count already.

Down in the minors, carousel relievers Matt Sauer and Jack Little are probably prepared to come up at moment's notice. Edgardo Henriquez and Landon Knack could also be options. This is technically depth, but it's far from the excellence the Dodgers were expecting at the beginning of the season.

Then again, there's a reason they've been connected to every top potentially available closer this summer, after all.