The Dodgers will get another veteran starting pitcher back after a long layoff this week, with Hyun-jin Ryu set to start on Thursday against the Padres, manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Monday.
Hyun Jin Ryu indicates he will pitch Thursday for #Dodgers "I'm sure they will announce it" he said in Korean and smiled
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 4, 2016
Roberts says Ryu starts Thursday
— Jack Baer (@JFordBaer) July 4, 2016
Roberts calls suddenly having too many starting pitchers a "high-class problem."
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) July 4, 2016
Ryu missed all of 2015 after surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, and last pitched in a major league game in Game 3 of the 2014 NLDS. He made a total of eight minor league rehab starts, though was shut down in May after the third of those appearances, feeling more shoulder discomfort.
On this latest rehab stint, Ryu made five starts, including one rain-shortened game for Triple-A Oklahoma City last Tuesday that lasted just 1⅔ innings. Ryu's final rehab start came Friday night for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, stretching out to six innings and 84 pitches.
There have been differing reports of Ryu's velocity during his rehab. From Friday:
Ryu went 6 innings, allowed five hits and two earned runs, no walks and struck out 3. FB was 85-89. Looked stronger and more comfortable.
— Max Gun (@Max_Gun) July 2, 2016
Hyun Jin #Ryu threw 6 innings on 84 pitches with 3Ks, 5H, 0BB, 2R(2ER) for @RCQuakes today, touched 91 mph #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/FNJYuAPc7N
— Joseph Kim (@blackwings2011) July 2, 2016
Ryu would be the second rehab comeback in five days for the Dodgers, joining Brandon McCarthy, who pitched five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts on Sunday in his first start in over 14 months after Tommy John surgery.
What this means going forward remains to be seen. Julio Urias enters Monday night at 74 innings between the majors and minors in 2016, after 80 innings in 2015. He could be shut down very soon, depending on what the club wants to do with him later in the season.
#Dodgers will re-evaluate whether or not Urias starts again before break, now that McCarthy & Ryu are back.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) July 4, 2016
Dave Roberts said the Dodgers will consider using a six-man rotation.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) July 4, 2016
Possibility of 6-man rotation in Kershaw's absence is "conversation worth having" #Dodgers Dave Roberts said
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 4, 2016