(Mandatory Credit: Cody Roper/Oklahoma City Dodgers)
Despite a recent series struggle against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the Oklahoma City Dodgers have been the gem of the PCL this season as they still control the American Northern division and lead the entire league with a 24-12 record.
After losing to the Reds in the third game of the four-game set, the Dodgers have now dropped six of their last seven games and are in danger of being swept by a club that had the worst record in the bigs not even a week ago.
Several weeks ago, the Dodgers lost two out of three games at home against the cellar-dwellers of the NL East, the Miami Marlins. At that particular point in time, there was still a sense that the club was on an upswing, with many pundits making the claim that “it’s impossible to win every single game, even against the worst clubs in the majors.”
Although starting pitching isn’t the main part of the problem for the 2018 Dodgers, it is one of those areas which could have a significant impact on the success of the club for the remainder of the season. Lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu, who was one of the squad’s strongest starters before his groin problem, is out until at least July. Clayton Kershaw still has no timetable set for a potential return. And when considering the injury history of veteran Rich Hill, many fans have been scanning the box scores of Triple-A Oklahoma City every morning just to see what kind of talent’s available on the farm—just in case.
(Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea/USA TODAY Sports)
The Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday reinstated outfielder Yasiel Puig from the 10-day disabled list (left hip contusion) and recalled left-handed reliever Scott Alexander and right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart from Triple-A Oklahoma City. To create room on the active roster, the Dodgers placed left-handed reliever Tony Cingrani on the 10-day DL (left shoulder inflammation) and optioned right-hander Yimi García and outfielder Alex Verdugo to OKC.
The Dodgers on Tuesday afternoon reinstated left-handed pitcher Rich Hill from the 10-day disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Hill had missed nearly three weeks due to complications resulting from a broken fingernail on his throwing hand.
As it’s difficult to actually put into words how much injuries have had an impact on the Dodgers‘ performance so far this year, the good news is that there may be a few players who are close to returning to action.
The Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday morning placed left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw on the 10-day disabled list with left bicep tendinitis and recalled right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart from Triple-A Oklahoma City.