Week-by-week the Los Angeles Dodgers disabled list gets shorter as players are becoming healthy in time for the team's stretch run as the seek their fourth consecutive National League West Title.
Since our last injury update, the Dodgers have officially set the all-time Major League record for most players on the disabled list when the team recalled Carlos Frias from Triple-A Oklahoma City last Friday only to immediately place him on the 60-day DL with a right oblique strain.
Frias became the Dodgers 28th different play to go on the DL, surpassing the 2012 Boston Red Sox record of 27. According to the MLB Disabled List Tracker, the Dodgers players have missed a total of 2,014 days this season, more than 200 more than the Oakland Athletics who are in second.
The Dodgers have also put an estimated payroll of $77 million on the disabled list this season, based on 2016 salaries and a per game basis. That figure is more than double the Texas Rangers who are in second with an estimated $35 million worth of payroll on the disabled list this season.
However you want to slice it, the moves have worked and one could argue its money well spent as the Dodgers (84-64) currently are 20 games above. 500 for the first time this season and lead the San Francisco Giants by 5 games for first place in the N.L. West.
Thankfully, nobody got injured this week, and some players are close to return with just two weeks left in the regular season for players to audition for the playoff roster.
Here's the latest injury updates:
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Trayce Thompson (Lower back injury): Thompson met with team doctors last week and he was cleared to "ramp up the volume of his rehab stuff." Thompson said he was excited, but he did not travel with the team on their 10-game road trip and with the minor league playoffs now over, his only rehab appearances would be in the instructional leagues. LA could use the help against left-handers, but its doubtful he returns in time to see any action or make the playoff roster.
Alex Wood (left posterior elbow soreness): Wood threw batting practice to live hitters on Thursday and is expected to be activated off the disabled list and pitch out of the bullpen on Monday. It is doubtful he makes the postseason roster.
Chris Hatcher (strained left oblique): Hatcher was moved to the 60-day disabled list on July 20th and is not expected to pitch again this season.
Hyun-Jin Ryu (left elbow tendinitis): Ryu has built up to long toss, but with two weeks left in the season he needs to set his sights on 2017.
Scott Van Slyke (Right Wrist irritation): Van Slyke finally underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist, effectively ending his season.
Brandon McCarthy (Right hip stiffness): After his not so good rehab start with Class-A Rancho, McCarthy returned to Arizona for a sim game this weekend. He's expected to pitch in another simulated game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday. He could be activated and placed in the bullpen, but it's unlikely he makes the postseason roster.
Brett Anderson (blister): After an atrocious start for Class-A Rancho, Anderson returned to throw five innings of one-run ball in Game Three of the Pacific Coast League Championship for the Oklahoma City Dodgers. That start was encouraging and likely means the team activates Anderson and gives him one more start before the season ends.
Scott Kazmir (neck irritation): Kazmir was scheduled to make a rehab start if the Oklahoma City Dodgers won on Saturday forcing a Game 5 winner-take-all for the PCL Championship. That didn't happen, so Kazmir will now have to jet-set to either Arizona or Los Angeles where he will make a simulated start before being activated.
Carlos Frias (right oblique): Frias was recalled from OKC last Friday as a procedural move to make room on the 40-man roster. Frias has been on the disabled list for a while and was moved to the 60-day DL.
