Injuries & Moves: Covey selected
LATEST NEWS
May 17: RHP Dustin May heading to IL with right flexor pronator strain
May pitched just one inning in the finale vs. the Twins on Wednesday before leaving with the injury, which was revealed with an MRI. Manager Dave Roberts said that May would be heading to the 15-day injured list, though the club is not yet sure how long his absence may be. Roberts also said that left-hander Justin Bruihl, who was optioned on Wednesday as the corresponding move for Dylan Covey, will be reactivated to take May's place on the roster.
May was making his 15th start back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in May 2021. More >>
May 17: RHP Dylan Covey has contract selected from Triple-A Oklahoma City; LHP Justin Bruihl optioned to Triple-A; RHP Jimmy Nelson transferred to 60-day IL
Covey has worked primarily as a starter with OKC this season, making six starts and one long relief appearance, but he joined Los Angeles to provide a boost to a bullpen that’s been tasked with throwing 13 innings in the first two games of the series vs. the Twins. The 31-year-old threw four-plus innings in the Dodgers' victory over the Twins on Wednesday, marking his first Major League appearance since 2020 after he spent the past two seasons with Rakuten in the CPBL.
To make room for Covey on the 40-man roster, Nelson was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
INJURY UPDATES
10-day and 15-day IL
RHP Michael Grove (right groin strain)
Expected return: TBD
Grove is throwing to hitters at the club's training facility in Arizona, but he is not yet near a rehab assignment, according to manager David Roberts. Grove exited his April 20 start in the fourth inning after feeling a grab in his right groin.
The right-hander said he “wasn’t too concerned” about the injury. But given the area, it made sense to place Grove on the 15-day injured list. He became the third Los Angeles starter to land on the IL since the start of the season, following Tony Gonsolin and Ryan Pepiot. (Last updated: May 9)
60-day IL
RHP Jimmy Nelson (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Nelson joined Triple-A Oklahoma City on April 25 to begin what will likely be a lengthy rehab assignment. It’s still unclear when Nelson could be ready for Major League action, but it’s a positive sign that he’ll be getting into game action down in the Minors. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 17. (Last updated: May 17)
RHP Walker Buehler (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Possibly late 2023, but start of '24 more likely
Buehler threw a bullpen session at Dodger Stadium on May 16, marking another step in the right direction for the right-hander. Buehler acknowledged he’s still months away from a potential return, but he did admit he’s aiming for a Sept. 1 return, which would be roughly 12 months of rehab since undergoing surgery last season. Buehler, however, did say that his return this season would only happen if he feels healthy and believes he can contribute at a high level, especially as a starter.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Buehler’s aggressive timetable is due to his competitiveness, but the team won’t rush him back. While Buehler continues to make significant progress, he still faces a lengthy rehab before he becomes a viable option this season. (Last updated: May 16)
RHP Ryan Pepiot (left oblique strain)
Expected return: Not until June
Pepiot has started throwing, including to hitters, but he is not ready to begin a rehab assignment, according to manager Dave Roberts. Pepiot was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 21, sidelining him until at least the beginning of June. (Last updated: May 9)
RHP Daniel Hudson (torn left ACL)
Expected return: June at the earliest
Hudson was initially expected back in early April, but the right-hander hasn’t recovered as quickly as hoped from the torn left ACL he suffered last June. To make room on the 40-man roster for Luke Williams, the Dodgers transferred Hudson to the 60-day injured list on April 18, pushing his return back until at least June. (Last updated: April 18)
RHP Alex Reyes (frayed labrum in right shoulder)
Expected return: Mid-to-late season
Reyes, who signed a one-year deal with a club option in early February, was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 16. (Last updated: April 16)
RHP Blake Treinen (right shoulder)
Expected return: TBD
Treinen recently began a throwing program and is out to 130 feet. The right-hander dealt with recurring shoulder injuries last season, and while he made it back in time to pitch in the postseason, he opted to undergo surgery shortly after the World Series ended. Treinen hopes to pitch by the end of the 2023 season, but it’s still too early to tell if that’s possible or if the team will hold him out until the '24 season. (Last updated: April 12)
SS Gavin Lux (torn right ACL)
Expected return: 2024
Lux underwent successful surgery on March 7 to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his right knee. The Dodgers shortstop will miss the 2023 season, but he's expected back by Spring Training in '24. (Last updated: March 30)
RHP J.P. Feyereisen (right shoulder surgery)
Expected return: Late August at the earliest
Feyereisen, who was acquired from the Rays on Dec. 14, underwent right shoulder surgery this offseason in a procedure that was described as a “general cleanup of the rotator cuff and labrum.” He won’t be able to pick up a baseball until April and he’ll be sidelined until at least the end of August. (Last updated: Dec. 14)