Hyun-jin Ryu, Alex Wood to be activated next week

The Dodgers will get two more starting pitchers back in the mix next week when Hyun-jin Ryu and Alex Wood are expected to be activated from the disabled list.

Wood will be activated on Tuesday to start against the Giants according to manager Dave Roberts. The plan for Ryu hasn’t been officially announced publicly, except to say the lefty won’t need another rehab start before joining the Dodgers next week.

Adding two more starters means roster moves are on the horizon. It would be safe to say one of those moves will be to return reliever Pat Venditte to Triple-A. The other could depend on when they actually plan on activating Ryu. So much can happen over a week.

Just like Ross Stripling’s toe, Wood’s left adductor tendonitis was just a short 10-day rest period. Tuesday is the first day Wood can be activated and he made out fine in a three-inning simulated game on Wednesday.

Wood has been excellent since mid-June, going 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA in nine starts.

As for Ryu, it will be the first time since May 2 that the 31-year-old has pitched in the big leagues. Ryu left that start with a torn groin after getting the first four outs. The left-hander allowed just seven runs in 29 ²⁄₃ innings over six starts to begin the season, going 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA.

The fact that both will be returning would seem to signal that the team will move Kenta Maeda to the bullpen. It is inevitable at some point that the right-hander will resume the role he had some success in at the end of last season, including the postseason.

Maeda will help bolster a group that is without their leader in Kenley Jansen at the moment. The move could come during the team’s trip to Seattle next weekend since Maeda is still a candidate to start Wednesday’s game.

Jansen Update

Speaking prior to Saturday night’s game in Colorado, Dodgers’ president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Jansen will have a follow up for his heart condition on August 20.

The Dodgers will be without their closer until the season moves into September. It’s how long into September that is unknown at this point.