Dodgers: Joe Kelly Expected to Pitch Again in Regular Season
Joe Kelly hasn’t appeared in a game for the Dodgers since September 18th. Moreover, he hasn’t completed a full inning pitched since September 11th. When asked about Kelly’s status, manager Dave Roberts has offered little in tangible ailments for the relief pitcher. Instead, Doc has chosen “general soreness” as a descriptor.
Kelly hasn’t pitched much lately and it turns out that the trend will continue.
Joe Kelly won’t pitch Thursday. Now scheduled for a bullpen on Friday. Obviously, the club is concerned about an injury it won’t disclose. Roberts insists Kelly could pitch now if the playoffs had started.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 26, 2019
After a stretch where the right-hander was one of the best relievers in baseball (1.29 ERA over 29 games), his last handful of outings have been less than ideal (5 ER, 5.1 IP). The numbers seem to lineup with a “nagging injury,” but still Roberts feels that Kelly would be ready today if it were a playoff game.
His body is responding well. He’s in a good place… We feel good about it. He could pitch right now. We’re managing where he’s at so we can look out for four weeks and make sure he can handle the workload.
As part of his pre-game media availability on Wednesday, the manager also offered a light at the end of the regular season tunnel.
Roberts said Kelly is likely to pitch only Sunday. That gives him only one outing to prove he’s healthy enough for the postseason.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 26, 2019
However, Wednesday night’s game against the Padres may have been something of a sneak peak in terms of a contingency plan if Kelly is unable to answer the bell.
Dustin May your setup man?
With Joe Kelly down due to a mysterious "overall body" ailment.
May takes the 8th in a one-run game.
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) September 26, 2019
Dustin May shut down the Padres on 11 pitches, punctuated by a 98.8mph fastball, the fastest recorded velocity of his young MLB career.
Kelly is in the first year of a 3-year deal signed last off-season. In 54 games, the righty has a 4.62 ERA in 50.2 IP. His FIP sits at a much more respectable 3.79 in 2019.
