Dodgers Team News

Dodgers News: Haren Dealing With Sore Back, Believes Team Can Improve

[new_royalslider id=”42″] With yet another one-run loss Wednesday, their seventh such loss of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers were a mediocre 5-4 on their nine-game road trip and are now 19-16 overall. The circumstances surrounding the trip certainly weren’t easy, as the Dodgers played a doubleheader, two extra-innings games and two rain delays, not counting the game with the Minnesota Twins that was rained-out and subsequently resulted in the twin bill.

Prior to making their respective starts on the road, Zack Greinke and Dan Haren were a combined 9-0 this season. Each made a start in the three-game series against the Washington Nationals. Greinke fell victim to a rain delay that lasted over three hours, which eliminated him from returning once play resumed.

As for Haren, he struggled in the first inning of Wednesday’s loss and was then letdown by a quiet Dodgers offense. Following the game, Haren offered his take on the Dodgers’ season thus far, via ESPN LA’s Mark Saxon:

We’re definitely not playing to our potential. We’ve got a lot left,” Haren said. “I think we’re just kind of treading water right now. We’re a few games over .500 in a good division and haven’t quite hit our stride yet.”

While the Dodgers have yet to round into form as Haren notes, the can find some solace in the fact that they are well ahead of last season’s horrendous start, which had them at 14-21 after playing 35 games. Similar to the early stages of the 2013 season, the Dodgers have again dealt with multiple injuries.

Josh Becket, A.J. Ellis, Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brian Wilson have all spent time on the disabled list, with Ryu the latest to go down with an injury. Haren’s name hasn’t been added to the group of players with time spent on the DL this season, but he too is dealing with some discomfort:

I feel discomfort 24 hours a day, seven days a week pretty much, at this point of my career,” Haren said. “Some days are worse than others.”

Haren acknowledged after his outing on Wednesday that his back was more sore than usual. Through his first six starts this season, the 33-year-old right-hander hadn’t shown any limitations. As of Wednesday evening, the Dodgers hadn’t offered comment or an update on Haren’s status  moving forward. With the rotation set through the weekend, Haren’s next scheduled start is May 12.
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