LOS ANGELES -- Injured starting pitchers Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-jin Ryu continue to inch closer to a minor league rehab assignment. It was McCarthy's turn on Monday to throw a bullpen session on the mound at Dodger Stadium, several hours before the Dodgers series opener against the Mets.
"Brandon looked really good," manager Dave Roberts said. "Velocity was good, I think he got up to 89 with his fastball. He was throwing fastball, change, breaking ball, cutter for three innings."
Brandon McCarthy @BMcCarthy32 pitches to Dave Roberts, as Andrew Friedman watches pic.twitter.com/E08wGKnm75
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) May 9, 2016
Roberts stood in the batters box against McCarthy, both right-handed and left-handed.
"The reason I like to stand in is I want to see it as a hitter, see the late life in the hitting zone," Roberts explained. "His sinker was really good."
McCarthy is recovering from Tommy John surgery he had on April 30, 2015. His next step, per Roberts, will be to face live hitters at some point next week, throwing roughly 40 pitches.
It is a similar schedule for Ryu, who is recovering from shoulder surgery on May 21, 2015. He threw a bullpen session last Thursday at Dodger Stadium, and will throw another one on Tuesday.
After that for Ryu will be facing hitters, the final step before he can be cleared to begin a minor league rehab assignment.