Reliever Kahnle is out for `weeks'

PHILADELPHIA >> The Dodgers’ bullpen has taken another hit.

Blake Treinen could be sidelined until the second half of the season with a shoulder injury. Victor Gonzalez is recovering from a debridement procedure on his elbow. Now Tommy Kahnle is likely out for weeks with an elbow injury.

Kahnle underwent an MRI earlier this week after going on the injured list with forearm pain. The official diagnosis after the exam is a bone bruise in his elbow. The injury is believed to be related to Kahnle’s recovery from Tommy John surgery performed in August 2020. Kahnle will be shut down for the next two weeks and then re-evaluated.

“It was certainly disappointing to hear that,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s going to be a while — weeks — before he picks up a baseball again. We’re expecting to have him back at some point in time. But certainly just disappointing with all that he’s had to overcome to get back here.”

The Dodgers were cautious with Kahnle’s return from Tommy John surgery, delaying his season debut until May 1 so he could make several appearances on a rehab assignment. Kahnle made just four appearances before going on the injured list.

“I mean, I’m not too concerned. But also it sucks,”

Kahnle said earlier this week. “I’ve been through a long rehab process, with Tommy John and all this stuff. But it sucks. It’s not the best.”

It is also not the best news for the Dodgers’ bullpen and Roberts acknowledged the team “was counting on him” to play a key role.

“But that’s not to be. So other guys are just gonna get opportunities,” he said.

Real blowout

The wheels on the bus did not go round and round.

One of the charter buses taking players, coaches and staff from the team hotel to Citizens Bank Park on Friday afternoon had a tire blow out — with a loud bang — while on the freeway.

Roberts was on the bus and jokingly asked if anyone knew how to change a tire — Dodgers closer Craig Kimbrel said he did.

“He did not (change the bus tire),” Roberts said. “But from what I gather from talking to him, he has that ability. I know he can change a car tire. But a dual-axel bus tire? I don’t know.”

The tire was changed — without Kimbrel’s help — and the group arrived at the park only slightly delayed, Roberts said.

“It was a quick turnaround. We were delayed probably 20 minutes,” Roberts said. “It was pretty easy. I guess it could have been a lot worse.”

Baez back

Right-hander Pedro Baez

Quinn in the third inning. Kyle Schwarber led off the fifth with a 108.6 mph rocket off the center field wall for a double but Urias stranded him at third, striking out two of the next three batters.

“That’s just baseball, you know,” Urias said through an interpreter, his disingenuous answer not lost in translation.

“I just made some adjustments mechanically in the bullpen. I think those adjustments worked out.”

Despite the poor results last weekend, Urias said his offspeed pitches were no more of a focus during that bullpen session than normal.

“No, I think it was adjustments with all of the pitches overall,” he said. “Some of those things I worked out. But it was adjustments all around.”

The Dodgers had Phillies starter Ranger Suarez in Ranger danger each of the first three innings but only scored in drips.

They loaded the bases with one out in the first but got only one run on a ground out by Justin Turner. A two-out double by Mookie Betts in the second put runners at first and third and Freddie Freeman drove them both in with a single through the middle.

“In that situation with two outs, you do everything you possibly can to get those guys in,” Freeman said. “I was able to foul off a couple pitches to keep that atbat alive then I was able to get a fastball back over the plate. Left on left, Ranger is back in the Dodgers’ organization after signing a minor-league contract with the team on Thursday.

A stalwart part of the Dodgers’ bullpen from 2014 through 2020 — if not necessarily a fan favorite — Baez left as a free agent, signing a two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Houston Astros. Things did not go well for Baez in Houston. After a bout with COVID last year, he came down with a sore shoulder that limited him to 4 1/3 innings.

He made just three appearances for the Astros last month before he was designated for assignment and released. The 34-yearold Baez has experienced a significant drop in velocity on his fastball since leaving the Dodgers — from 94-96 mph with the Dodgers to less than 90 mph with the Astros.

Baez will head to the Dodgers’ training complex in Arizona before being assigned to a minor-league team.

Also

Left-hander Andrew Heaney threw another bullpen session on Friday afternoon. Heaney threw approximately 30 pitches. “He looked good,” Roberts said. “Fastball, slider, changeup. Sat 90 (mph), touched 92.” Heaney will throw at least one more bullpen session before facing hitters in a simulated game situation. A minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment will follow at some point after that.

with that sinker just boring in on your hands, you’re just trying to push him out over (the plate). Luckily I was able to foul a couple off and get him back over the plate.”

The Dodgers got nothing from leadoff singles the next two innings or a basesloaded, one-out situation in the fifth.

That left a 3-0 lead for the Dodgers’ bullpen to protect when Roberts pulled the plug on Urias after what has become his prescribed dosage — 80 pitches and twice through the lineup.

Urias has thrown no more than 82 pitches in a start this season but Roberts said there is not a line drawn there for the young left-hander.

“No, not at all,” Roberts said. “The familiarity with the Phillies, just the recency (of facing them) and knowing he’s going to be on regular (rest next start) I just felt there was no upside in pushing him an extra inning tonight. But it’s not a pitch count for Julio.”

The Phillies beat up on the Dodgers’ bullpen last weekend as well — but not Yency Almonte. He pitched three scoreless innings in that series (his first since being promoted from Triple-a) and added to that Friday, getting the first four outs of the relief relay.

The shutout stayed intact from Alex Vesia to Evan Phillips. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Phil Bickford gave up back-toback doubles to Schwarber and JT Realmuto, losing the shutout before Craig Kimbrel got the final out.