The Los Angeles Dodgers are navigating a brutal stretch of injuries to their pitching staff, with manager Dave Roberts expressing growing concern over one key absence: right-handed reliever Evan Phillips.
Nearly three weeks have passed since Phillips was placed on the injured list with what was initially believed to be a minor forearm issue. However, the right-hander still hasn’t resumed throwing and continues to experience discomfort — a troubling development for both the player and the team.
“It’s starting to get a little concerning … but [we’re] hoping for the best,” Roberts told reporters Sunday, via Los Angeles Times beat writer Jack Harris on X (formerly Twitter).
Phillips, 30, last pitched on May 5 against the Miami Marlins, allowing two hits in one inning of work. In 2025, he’s appeared in just seven games, recording six strikeouts. Across his tenure with the Dodgers, he’s struck out 221 batters — making his extended absence a major blow to a bullpen already stretched thin.
Los Angeles Dodgers Scramble Amid Pitching Crisis
The pitching strain was on full display Friday, when the Dodgers needed eight different pitchers to outlast the Mets in a 13-inning, 7–5 victory at Citi Field.
As a result, the Dodgers have signed veteran right-hander Chris Stratton to a major league contract, the team announced Sunday. To make room on the active roster, Bobby Miller has been optioned to the minors, while fellow right-hander J.P. Feyereisen was designated for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
The move was first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. While the financial terms of Stratton’s deal haven’t been disclosed, it’s confirmed to be a major league agreement.
Stratton, who signed with the club Sunday, adds much-needed depth — but it’s clear the Dodgers are treading water until key reinforcements return.
The Dodgers’ injury list reads like a who’s who of their expected 2025 rotation and bullpen. Roki Sasaki and Blake Snell are both sidelined with shoulder injuries. Tyler Glasnow is battling shoulder inflammation, though he offered a glimmer of hope with a positive update on May 22. Meanwhile, Clayton Kershaw returned from his own layoff on May 17 but remains on a workload management plan.