It’s no secret that the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ pitching staff is one of the most injured in baseball. Miraculously, they have somehow navigated the depth of the injury list and still sit in first place in the NL West.
However, with the season lingering on, it will be tough to maintain this forever, and so the staff needs to start getting healthy and staying healthy.
One of those pitchers is star reliever Evan Phillips.
After a tremendous season in 2024, Phillips had to unfortunately miss the World Series run due to a tear in his rotator cuff. He finished the season with 63 strikeouts and 18 saves, and allowed just 3 hits in October before he was shut down for the season.
He rehabbed during the offseason with the expectation of having a very important role in the bullpen. Even with the additions of Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, Phillips was, and is, one of the Dodgers’ most important relievers.
He would miss the opening part of the season but made his debut towards the end of April and would get in seven games before elbow inflammation put him back on the injury list.
Dodgers Reliever Evan Phillips Remains On IL
As we turn the calendar to June, Phillips remains on the injury list, and it is still not clear when he will return.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke on his injury and timeline.
“It’s starting to get a little concerning. I don’t know how long we can give it until he can attempt to start playing catch again. I’m getting a little kind of concerned, but hoping for the best.”
Phillips is 1 of 14 pitchers on the IL. His 15-day exemption could end up being extended if he does not progress, and based on Roberts’ comments, he is not progressing at the pace that they had hoped.
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Luckily for the Dodgers, they keep winning ball games, so keeping him out to get fully recovered is still in their best interest. But they are exhausting the arms they do still have in the bullpen and will need relief very soon.