Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Says Joe Kelly is Out for Postseason, Price Roster Option
Thursday night was a near-perfect night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers kept their 2021 hopes alive with an 11-run offensive explosion. Chris Taylor had a career night, AJ Pollock broke out with a pair of home runs, Albert Pujols chipped in three singles, and Trea Turner found a way to finally take advantage of the Braves’ shift and poke a pair of hits through the right side.
Additionally, the bullpen was perfect while covering 8.1 innings. However, the lone sore spot proved to be the early injury to opener Joe Kelly. The right-hander left the game with bicep tightness after allowing a 2-run homer and recording only 2 outs. He threw just 28 pitches.
After the game, Dave Roberts had the update on the reliever.
“It’s a bicep strain. We’re gonna continue to evaluate it but — just kind of the way it reads right now, that’ll be it for the season for him.”
Thankfully the rest of the bullpen picked up Joseph and the Dodgers in a massive way. Six relievers combined to hold the Atlanta offense scoreless over 8.1 innings, allowing only 3 hits while striking out 9 Braves.
Today, the Dodgers fly to the east coast ahead of game 6 on Saturday afternoon. Dave and the medical staff will assuredly take that time to determine the next steps for Kelly, but, as he said, from the initial read, it seems like Joe will be done for the season.
However much longer that may be.
It’s another blow for the Dodgers who have been hit by the injury bug heavily all season long. Now with Kelly out, the bullpen is down one of Doc’s top leverage arms at a time when he may be most needed. The late inning options will still feature Kenley Jansen, Blake Treinen, and Corey Knebel, but the loss of Kelly definitely hampers the ability to bring in key arms early in the game.
As for Joe’s roster spot, Roberts said there is a short list of arms the organization will consider to replace the right-hander, adding that David Price is someone who is at the top of that list.
NEXT: Max Muncy Out of Elbow Brace, Remains Hopeful for Return
Bring in Price as a starter.
Please don’t. Although Price would have been good to have in the late blowout last night to eat a couple innings. Urias and Scherzer should get some roids from Mad bum……
Geez, can it get any worse? Dodgers have to have the most talented cheering section in Baseball History!
Now the Dodgers have to go out and win this for:
Kershaw, Muncy, JT and Kelly! NEXT MAN UP!
Let’s go Dodgers!
Not to mention, expensive!
He quit on his team.
This is getting ridiculous!
OK, let’s play, “Who’s next?”
I’ll say Souza, then bring in Zach Mc!
No way, Souza and mckinstry are 6-8 guaranteed outs…Keep Pollock and Pujols in the order. Time to forget the stupid righty lefty insanity and let the HOF and sure left fielder in the game..
Kirk, spot on. No need to fix what isn’t broke. Game 6 lineup exactly the same.
I will borrow a line from the great HOFer Tommy Lasorda (RIP)…”If you told me at the beginning of the season would you be willing to settle for a chance to go the WS all you had to do was win two in Atlanta with Scherzer and Buehler on the bump? I’d jump at the chance!” I of course paraphrased a bit, but you get my point.
And now I’ll borrow a quote from Mad Max…”Let’s play some baseball!”
Folks we got ‘em right where we want ‘em.
Let’s go Dodgers!
yeap, yeap!
BTW, Zach Mc was to replace Souza on the roster, not start the game.
The lineup last night rocked it!
Awesome Doug, sorry I mistook your post…..Yes, same line up!!! Dodgers know they can do this….
Yes sir d4, let’s hope drrrrrrr doesn’t pull a brain fert and sit Pollock or Pujols. I say this because he did it to Russ Martin a few years back after russ had a 4rbi game. And also sat david freese for basically a entire post season. Both years the dodgers lost and under peformed. Let’s hope he’s learned something….
Kirk, from your lips to God’s ear. You gotta think at some point with enough heart-stopping, wake-up calls, the “brain trust” will have finally learned their lessons! One can only hope!
LFG!
Oh and I almost forgot…my vote for roster replacement for Kelly…Mitch White! Kid was pretty darn good coming down the stretch.
Have we heard the reasoning behind Brusdar hitting for himself with a runner in scoring position only to be replaced at the start of the next inning ? Hell if nothing else let Julio hit for him.
Kinda of a moot point yes/no?
Let’s win the next two games in Atlanta.