Dodgers News: Beckett’s Ankle Feels Good After Bullpen Session

Josh Beckett is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to the injuries in Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff. After missing almost all of last season for Thoracic Outlet Surgery to stop the numbing in his hand, the 33-year-old right-hander looked ready as ever going into the spring until a clubhouse door was slammed on his right thumb.

The bruised thumb placed him on the 15-day disabled list going into the start of the season, and in a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Friday, Beckett tweaked his ankle trying to field a bunt, which also aggravated an existing calf issue and resulted in the starter leaving the game.

Aside from the fielding incident, Beckett said he felt great in his outing. With his thumb feeling healthy, the Dodgers are taking a serious look at having Beckett start Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers. Although, with the recent ankle injury, the starter’s return seemed to be jeopardized. The team was waiting to see how the right-hander felt after throwing a bullpen session on Sunday.

Beckett’s ankle seems to be feeling 100 percent via J.P. Hoornstra of the O.C. Register:

“I had some swelling in my ankle. My calf was barking a little bit too,” Beckett said Sunday. “We kind of ruled that out. The calf got better with some treatment yesterday, some ice last night. … The ankle feels perfect.”

Reports of a successful bullpen sessoin is good news when considering Hyun-Jin Ryu could have his start pushed back if Beckett is able to go. Although it seems Beckett feels ready for Wednesday, Don Mattingly is being slightly more cautious via Hoornstra:

“I think we have to leave [Ryu] as a possibility,” Mattingly said. “He’d be healthy for it.”

If Ryu must start on Wednesday, it will be his fourth start of the season so far and the organization does not want to wear the young starter out too early. The best case scenario is that Beckett is able to face off against Anibal Sanchez on Wednesday and give Ryu an extra day of rest. Beckett has been out of the game for almost a year and his return has been a long time coming. The organization will look for Mattingly in the next few days to make a decision on who Wednesday’s starter will be.

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