Dodgers: Dave Roberts Talks Kenley Jansen Status and Time Crunch

The second longest tenured Dodger is a no-show so far at summer camp for Los Angeles. In fact, it’s been something of a mystery as to why Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is absent. The club won’t tell us what’s wrong with any of the now six or so players missing from camp.

Par for the course.

Still, manager Dave Roberts doesn’t appear to be very worried about his long-time closer, at least at the moment. Moreover, Doc talked about Kenley and what he’s hearing from the big man.

I talked to Kenley today and he’s in really good spirits, feeling good, so we expect to see him soon. He’s been moving around and so I think that he’ll be ready.

Reading into that statement, you start to worry more about the healthy of Kenley Jansen. LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke believes Jansen’s absence is “likely medical,” so we’ll go ahead and put the onus of assumption on him.

Swingman Tony Gonsolin was another pitcher who missed the first almost week of summer camp activities, but he arrived at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. With less than two weeks until opening day, pitchers like Gonsolin and Jansen are definitely putting themselves behind the clock to be up to speed for major league hitters.

Something Dave Roberts agrees with. Still, he remains optimistic.

Obviously every day off the calendar certainly makes it a little bit more difficult, but I’m still confident that we have enough time for each one of those individuals.

While the Dodgers are always deep with capable arms, the potential opening day roster on the pitching side is starting to feel a little stretched thin, particularly in the backend of the bullpen. Thankfully, however, the club still possesses the ability to get creative in a pinch by mixing and matching a “closer by committee,” if needed. Something that might potentially be best for the club.