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LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers placed Hyun-jin Ryu on the 10-day disabled list with a left groin strain on Thursday, though the left-hander is expected to miss at least a few months with a pretty severe tear.
The strain in Hyun-Jin Ryu’s groin was severe. He tore the muscle off the bone, Dave Roberts said.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) May 3, 2018
The Dodgers say Ryu’s groin tear was diagnosed a Grade 2 strain. So, it could have been worse. Surgery was not deemed necessary.
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) May 3, 2018
Roberts said that Ryu’s left groin strain is likely going to keep him out until the 2nd half of the season/post All-Star break. Walker Buehler strong candidate to fill that void.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) May 3, 2018
Ryu left Wednesday night’s game in the second inning, ending what had been a fantastic start to his season. He posted a 2.12 ERA in six starts with 36 strikeouts against 10 walks, including just five walks in his last five starts.
That provides a runway for Walker Buehler to join the Dodgers rotation, which he will do to start Friday’s series opener in Monterrey, Mexico.
But for now the Dodgers have just three starting pitchers on the active roster — Rich Hill is expected to be activated from the DL to start Sunday — which means 10 relief pitchers at the ready for Thursday’s series finale against the Diamondbacks.
Starting lineups
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | D-backs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | D-backs |
| SS | Taylor | LF | Owings |
| 2B | Hernandez | SS | Ahmed |
| RF | Kemp | 1B | Goldschmidt |
| 1B | Bellinger (L) | CF | Pollock |
| C | Barnes | RF | Souza |
| 3B | Farmer | 2B | Marte (S) |
| LF | Verdugo (L) | 3B | Marrero |
| CF | Locastro | C | Mathis |
| P | Wood | P | Corbin (L) |
The latest to join the bullpen is Yimi Garcia, who was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday. Garcia started the season on the DL while still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. In eight games with OKC, Garcia had a 3.52 ERA with seven strikeouts and no walks in 7⅔ innings.
His last major league appearance was April 22, 2016.
Joining Garcia on the call-up train is Tim Locastro, who gets the start in center field on Thursday against southpaw starter Patrick Corbin.
Locastro was off to a hot start in Triple-A, hitting .342/.448/.507 with five doubles, two triples and a home run. The speedster stole five bases without getting caught with Oklahoma City and scored 20 runs in 21 games. Most of his time in Triple-A this season has come in center field, with 12 starts, but he has also started four games in left field and twice at second base.
The Dodgers optioned utility man Breyvic Valera to Triple-A, though that appears to be only a one-day, temporary move. The Dodgers and Padres can each use a 26th man for their weekend series in Monterrey, and that player has to be a position player.
D-backs transaction
Arizona also made a roster move on Thursday, activating Steven Souza off the disabled list, and he’s in the starting lineup batting fifth and playing right field. Souza missed the first 30 games of the season with a strained right pectoral muscle.
The Diamondbacks optioned Christian Walker to Triple-A Reno as the corresponding move.