Joe Kelly and Brusdar Graterol will begin season on Injured List

Opening Day is less than a week away, and it looks as if the Dodgers will begin the season short-handed. While speaking to reporters on Saturday, Dave Roberts said that both Joe Kelly and Brusdar Graterol will begin the season on the Injured List.

This news doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, as both pitchers have yet to appear in a game this spring.

Kelly has been dealing with a lingering shoulder injury throughout the spring and has made progress, but he has yet to throw to live hitters.

Graterol is in the same position, though there’s no report as to whether or not he’s hurt or is still ramping up his arm. Over the last few weeks, Roberts has talked about Graterol’s slow offseason, mentioning that there were certain things preventing him from getting throwing in, thus putting him behind schedule.

With both these relievers set to miss the start of the season, this opens up two additional spots on the Opening Day roster for pitchers fighting for a role.

There’s no timetable as to when either pitcher could return for the Dodgers.