Edgardo Henriquez’s injury update brought the Dodgers some relief, even if it didn’t change the calendar much. The reliever’s MRI came back “positive,” and manager Dave Roberts said the club is “hopeful” Henriquez will be ready for the postseason after landing on the injured list with a lower-body issue.
The diagnosis is a “low-grade” back strain, according to Roberts. Los Angeles placed Henriquez on the 15-day injured list, which means he cannot return until September 29th. That effectively closes the book on his regular season.
The bigger question now is whether he can be part of the October picture. The Dodgers view him as a key bullpen piece, and there’s a real chance he could be used in high-leverage spots if he gets back on the mound in time. He could even factor into the closer conversation.
Henriquez has earned that kind of trust with what he’s done this season. He owns a 2.62 ERA and a 2.50 FIP, and the numbers back up the eye test: he misses bats, avoids hard contact, and keeps the ball in the park like a top-tier reliever.
His fastball is the headliner. Henriquez throws triple digits, a trait that may have played into the back problem, but the pitch’s movement and his improving command have made it a real weapon out of the bullpen.
He doesn’t have the same high-leverage track record as pitchers like Edwin Diaz and Tanner Scott, but he brings a confident edge every time he takes the mound. How quickly the Dodgers would turn to him in the playoffs remains unclear, but if he’s healthy, they’ll look to use him as much as they can.
In Other News...
Dodgers Just Made A Bullpen Move That Could Sting Fans Too
The Dodgers got another piece back in the bullpen mix by activating left-hander Kris Bubic off the 60-day injured list and adding him to both the 28- and 40-man rosters. Bubic, who came over from the Royals at the trade deadline, is expected to give Los Angeles a left-handed relief option as it continues sorting through the back end of its staff.
To clear space, right-hander Paul Gervase was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City and outfielder Ryan Ward was designated for assignment. The roster shuffle fits the kind of August management the Dodgers have leaned on all year, but the move also comes with the usual cost of squeezing out a depth piece to make room for a pitcher the club clearly wants available now. [Read more 🡒]
Shohei Ohtani Return Buzz Just Got Very Real For Dodgers Fans
The Dodgers kept rolling against the Reds by winning the first two games of the four-game set, and they did it with the kind of balance that can travel deep into October. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tarik Skubal each turned in strong pitching performances, while Teoscar Hernndez supplied the thunder with a pair of two-run homers that helped keep Los Angeles in control.
Amid the current momentum, the bigger buzz for Dodgers fans is Shohei Ohtani, who is still working back from injuries but has recently taken batting practice. The team remains optimistic he could return before the end of the regular season, which would add another layer to a lineup already getting key production at the right time, even as everyone waits to see just how soon that final piece can fall into place. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Suddenly Have A Real Josue De Paula Dilemma
Josue De Paula keeps giving the Dodgers another reason to think hard about the future. The top prospect homered against the Miami Marlins, a reminder that the 19-year-old has the kind of power and plate discipline that has drawn comparisons inside the organization to past Dodgers rookie-of-the-year types, including Mike Piazza. For a club that always seems to be balancing present contention with the next wave, De Paulas rise is becoming harder to ignore.
The timing, though, is what makes this interesting. Los Angeles also has to figure out where he fits once Shohei Ohtani comes off the injured list, and that sort of roster puzzle tends to say as much about a prospect as any scouting report does. De Paula is forcing the issue now, and the Dodgers may soon have to decide whether his bat is ready for a bigger stage or whether his path has to wait behind an even larger return. [Read more 🡒]