The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Graterol lands on IL with shoulder pain
ST. LOUIS » Dodgers relievers have allowed fewer hits than any other bullpen in the National League this season. But they have taken plenty of them.
Already operating without Blake Treinen (out for months with a shoulder injury), Daniel Hudson (out for the season with a torn ACL) and Tommy Kahnle (limited to four innings in his return from Tommy John surgery), the Dodgers’ bullpen took another hit when Brusdar Graterol was placed on the injured list on Thursday due to shoulder inflammation.
Graterol felt discomfort during his pre-game routine Wednesday and will undergo an MRI in Los Angeles today to determine the extent of the injury.
“We’ve taken our hits the first half,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged. “But fortunately we’ve got starters that have gone deeper and the guys that we’ve plugged in have done a great job. It’s also helpful that the offense can pick up the pitching at times. But, yeah, you don’t want to lose too many more guys.”
Graterol’s role has gradually increased with the losses of Treinen and Hudson. He leads the Dodgers with 37 appearances this season, earning three saves. He went the final two innings of Sunday’s comeback win on Sunday and felt fine playing catch the next three days. It
Graterol was during his plyometric work with a weighted ball on Wednesday that he felt something in his shoulder.
“When I was going through my routine, I was doing everything I usually do,” Graterol said through an interpreter. “Then I went to lift up my shoulder and felt a little more pressure than I usually do.
“Yesterday during my routine, especially when I was doing the heavy-ball lifting, that’s when I started to feel the pain.”
Grateroll does have a history of shoulder problems. In 2019, he was shut down for much of the minor-league season with a shoulder impingement but recovered to make his major-league debut with the Minnesota Twins that September.
“I think we’re pretty optimistic because there wasn’t one incident that sort of triggered this,” Roberts said.
“He’s been a stalwart. He’s been healthy. This just kind of popped up.”
Reyes Moronta was activated from the taxi squad to replace Graterol on the roster.
Treinen threw another bullpen session before Wednesday’s game, making over 30 pitches with a simulated inning break in between. It was Treinen’s fourth time throwing off a mound since taking that step in his recovery from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him since April.
Treinen’s velocity was down during this session. But he continues to progress toward facing hitters.
“He came out of it healthy,” Roberts said. “The velocity wasn’t what it was a couple times before but that really isn’t a concern. His volume got up and he felt good coming out of it.”
The Dodgers are hopeful that Treinen can return in August. Kahnle moved his rehab from a forearm injury to Arizona this week. He is not expected back until September.
Defamation suit
In the latest twist in the saga of Freddie Freeman’s free-agent departure from Atlanta, Freeman’s agent, Casey Close of Excel Sports Management, has filed a libel lawsuit against radio host Doug Gottlieb.
Gottlieb tweeted last month that Close had “never told Freddie Freeman about the Braves’ final (contract) offer and that is why Freeman fired him.” Freeman has reportedly filed papers intending to part ways with Close and Excel. Freeman has said only that he is “working through some issues” regarding his representation.
Close has denied Gottlieb’s charge and, in the lawsuit, accuses him of “falsely and recklessly” defaming the agent.
“Although we gave Mr. Gottlieb an opportunity to retract his false statement, he failed to do so,” Close said in a statement. “The Complaint sets the record straight as to what occurred during the negotiations with the Atlanta Braves.”
Freeman declined to comment on the situation Thursday.
Also
Outfielder Chris Taylor has begun some baseball activities — hitting in the cage and playing catch. Taylor is not expected back until some time after the All-star break after suffering a fracture in his left foot on July 2.