Dodgers News: Latest round of roster cuts, Emmett Sheehan injury fallout

This past weekend was a tough one for the Dodgers. Not only did we see the worrisome results of the surprise Mookie Betts/Gavin Lux defensive switch, but we got more roster cuts and some rough developments in injury for the pitching staff.

There are less than 10 days to go before Opening Day in Seoul, so there are very few times that would be less ideal for things to start going awry. Nothing warrants a full-blown panic yet, but all of the new information does indicate a few more shakeups are on their way.

Dalton Rushing, Trey Sweeney highlight Round 2 of Dodgers' roster cuts

March 3's roster cuts, the first of spring, saw the departures of 11 players from Dodgers spring training. Six, including Andy Pages and River Ryan, were optioned back to the minors, while five were reassigned to minor league camp. LA cut 10 more players this weekend, including offseason trade pickup Matt Gage and top prospects Dalton Rushing and Trey Sweeney.

Rushing and Sweeney were never going to crack the Opening Day roster out of camp this year (they're in High-A and Double-A respectively), but both will appear in the Dodgers' Spring Breakout game against the Angels on March 16. Rushing, their No. 1 prospect, will hope to do better in the exhibition than he did at Dodgers' camp; he went hitless in 10 at-bats.

Gage came over from the Yankees during the Caleb Ferguson trade, and despite how crowded the Dodgers bullpen already was, was a viable candidate for one of the last spots. Instead, the Dodgers used Gage's last minor league option to send him back down to start the season.

Dodgers pitchers dropping like flies, creating more questions for the Opening Day roster

When it rains, it pours. This weekend, three Dodgers pitchers were scratched for varying amounts of time: Blake Treinen, who's supposed to becoming back from an almost two-year absence, took a comebacker to the ribs on Saturday and has since been diagnosed with a lung contusion. Right now, it's unclear how long he'll need to recover or if he'll be ready for Opening Day.

However, two pitchers who definitely won't be ready are Emmet Sheehan and Brusdar Graterol. Sheehan reported shoulder tightness last week, and Dave Roberts confirmed he'd be starting the season on the IL. He is already back to throwing bullpens in camp, but the team doesn't plan to rush him to Opening Day.

Graterol won't be traveling with the team to Korea for the Seoul Series but does hope to be ready for the Dodgers' first home game on March 28. He's only pitched one inning during spring training, after which he complained about hip tightness and more minor shoulder discomfort.

Sheehan's absence will be the most immediately impactful for the Dodgers, who will need to find a new No. 5 starter. Gavin Stone and Michael Grove are leading candidates; Stone has pitched well during spring games after a few disastrous first outings last year.