The Los Angeles Dodgers placed pitcher Gavin Stone on the injured list on Friday, and it is unclear if he will return this season.
The Dodgers, leading the NL West, had to call up Landon Knack from the minors to start Friday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, who are leading the AL Central.
Stone was the only Dodgers starter to remain healthy throughout the season but now has right shoulder inflammation. He will not be able to pitch for 10 to 14 days and will try to get back to form with less than a month remaining in the regular season, according to manager Dave Roberts.
The right-hander has a record of 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA in his second season.
“This was a breakthrough year for him and he picked us up a lot,” Roberts said. “To potentially not see this through, that would be really disheartening.”
Stone joins other Dodgers starters Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Emmet Sheehan, and River Ryan on the injured list.
Glasnow is set to throw a bullpen session on Saturday, and Yamamoto is expected to return on Tuesday after missing almost three months.
“Losing Gavin for any length of time makes their value even more, but they can only do what they can do,” Roberts said, noting that “time is running out” for Glasnow to return.
Despite the issues with their starting pitchers, the Dodgers are close to securing the division title for the 11th time in the last 12 years.
“We’re going to have enough pitching,” Roberts said. “The names might be a little bit different. I don’t think anyone knows who or who’s not going to be part of it.”