LOS ANGELES -- The bullpen session heard around the world turned about to be nothing much more than routine, and Hyun-jin Ryu remains scheduled and ready to start Game 3 of the NLDS for the Dodgers against the Braves.
"We have no concerns about him," manager Don Mattingly said before Saturday's workout at Dodger Stadium. "He's starting tomorrow."
Ryu threw a bullpen session on Friday in Atlanta, which was newsworthy for two reasons. For one, Ryu as a practice didn't throw bullpen sessions between starts except on a few occasions, keeping the routine that made him a seven-time All-Star in Korea.
Ryu explained, through interpreter Martin Kim, that he always throws a bullpen sessions when he has at least six days between starts. Ryu last pitched on Sunday, so his Game 3 start will be on six days rest.
"Typically when I rest longer than normal I always squeeze in a bullpen session in there, just to make sure my body is responding the way I want it to," Ryu said. "I feel really good right now. My goal is to try to get my body ready and try to take the lead in the series."
With six or more days rest this season, Ryu is 3-2 with a 3.65 ERA in seven starts.
"When he gets longer he's going to throw a little bit," Mattingly said. "It's nothing we're concerned about."
The other concern was that Ryu's bullpen session was under the watchful eye of Mattingly, director of medical services Stan Conte, and team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Ryu was asked if there was any reason he wouldn't start on Sunday night.
"No," he said. "I will be starting tomorrow."
Mattingly downplayed the bullpen session even further.
"Stan's pretty much always watching him, and I think Neal just loves being in the bullpen down there. In Atlanta, it's such a nice bullpen, it's cool there," Mattingly joked.