Hyun-Jin Ryu Receives Cortisone Shot, Temporarily Shut Down
Ryu was diagnosed with irritation in his throwing shoulder and was scheduled for an MRI Monday. According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, Ryu received a cortisone injection and won’t throw for a minimum of four days:
Ryu had cortisone injection and MRI, shut down for at least 4 days, will rejoin the club in Chicago.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 15, 2014
As for the MRI, it didn’t reveal any change in Ryu’s shoulder:
No change from MRI in May, when he missed three weeks.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 15, 2014
All signs point to Ryu missing the remainder of the regular season with the three-week mark roughly placing him on track to return for a potential Game 3 of the NLDS (Oct. 6). Carlos Frias is scheduled to start in place of Ryu Wednesday and another strong start would likely earn him a spot in the rotation for the time being.
Aside from being down one of their top three starters, where the Dodgers may run into trouble is if they are unable to clinch the National League West division and wind up in the Wild Card game. It would force Clayton Kershaw to start the one-game playoff, which then would push up the date of the Dodgers’ need for a third a starter.
The Dodgers currently hold a three-game lead over the Giants in the NL West standings and the two teams will meet again at Chavez Ravine Sept. 22-24. As was the case for the series in San Francisco, manager Don Mattingly aligned the rotation so Ryu, Zack Greinke and Kershaw would take the ball.
That was also going to be the case for the series at Dodger Stadium, however the Dodgers appear on track to need Frias or another start to pitch Sept. 22.
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