The Dodgers’ bullpen took a nasty hit Saturday, and it came at the worst possible time. Blake Treinen suffered a shoulder injury while warming up in the bullpen, and manager Dave Roberts said in San Francisco that the right-hander will finish the regular season on the injured list and won’t pitch in the postseason.
“I don't know if it was a complete blowout, but really unfortunate,” Roberts said.
Treinen’s injury lands after a season already interrupted by health issues. He missed July and August with right elbow inflammation, then returned in September and gave the Dodgers seven appearances, allowing eight hits and three runs, all earned, over 6.2 innings. For the year, he went 4-1 with a 3.64 ERA in 36 outings, working in a set-up role and striking out more than a batter per inning while posting a 1.416 WHIP.
The loss stings even more because the Dodgers were already dealing with uncertainty in the late innings. Right-handers Will Klein and Edgardo Henriquez were both facing injury question marks as October neared, and Treinen’s absence makes it even more likely that Roki Sasaki will be asked to handle high-leverage relief work after shifting from the regular-season rotation to the postseason bullpen.
Roberts also listed Evan Phillips, Edwin Diaz, and Brock Stewart among the other right-handed relievers he expects to have available in October.
Treinen’s career has already been shaped by shoulder trouble. After pitching in five games in 2022, he suffered a major shoulder injury that required surgery and kept him out for all of 2023. Since then, though, he hadn’t been placed on the injured list for a shoulder-related issue until now.
At 38, the timing adds another layer to an already difficult setback. Treinen is headed for free agency after the season, and the size and shape of his next deal will depend on how serious the injury turns out to be and how long recovery takes.
Across 12 MLB seasons, including the last six with the Dodgers, Treinen has gone 49-42 with a 2.94 ERA and 83 saves. He wasn’t always the closer, but he was a trusted weapon for strikeouts, run prevention, and big October moments during a run that has included three World Series championships this decade.
His postseason track record with Los Angeles includes three saves in three chances in 2024, along with only three runs allowed over nine October appearances. He also earned the win in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, tossing 2.1 scoreless relief innings against the New York Yankees.
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