Baez Confident He’ll Make Quick Return, Mattingly Takes Positive View

Only one month of the 2015 season has passed and the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff looks as if they have been through quite the battle. With Pedro Baez now on the disabled list, a total of eight pitchers are currently inactive.

Baez was removed from the game on May 13, when he began to feel discomfort; it was later determined he suffered a strained right pectoral muscle and Baez has been shut down for the next few days.

While it’s another loss for the bullpen, manager Don Mattingly sees some positive for Baez and the Dodgers in the long run. “In the end with Pedro, he’s going to be back,” Mattingly said.

“You could look at the silver lining of it, it’ll take a little usage off Pedro. You know when he comes back, he’s going to have [thrown] fewer innings and appearances.” Baez also remains relatively upbeat as according to J.P. Hoornstra of the LA News Group, he’s confident that he won’t need more than the 15 days on the DL to recover:

Pedro Baez believes he'll be able to come back from the DL once his 15 days are up. #Dodgers

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) May 15, 2015

The right-hander has been solid for the Dodgers, contributing to the 2.24 combined bullpen ERA. In 15.1 innings, Baez has given up 12 hits and just three earned runs. With 12.91 K/9, it will be difficult for the Dodgers to fill his place, though Jansen’s pending return figures to be a significant boost.

Daniel Coulombe was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Baez on the active roster, but he could be optioned as early as Friday if the Dodgers choose to reinstate Jansen from the DL. If Coulombe manages to stick with the Dodgers through Friday, then the seemingly inevitable presumably will take place Saturday.

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