The Los Angeles Dodgers’ battered pitching staff may soon receive a much-needed reinforcement. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that right-hander Michael Kopech is likely to rejoin the team within the week, offering a potentially significant boost to a bullpen that has been decimated by injuries.
Kopech completed his ninth rehab appearance for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, tossing a scoreless inning while striking out one and walking another. While that outing was encouraging, it was more the exception than the rule during his rehab stint. Across 6.1 innings, Kopech has surrendered 11 runs, walked 11 batters, and recorded 10 strikeouts — good for a 15.63 ERA.
Despite the rough stat line, Roberts expressed optimism about Kopech’s return, pointing to the right-hander’s high-velocity fastball — which reportedly hit 101 mph on Sunday — and his prior Major League track record.
Los Angeles Dodgers Comments on Michael Kopech’s Rehab
“They certainly weren’t great,” Roberts said of Kopech’s minor league outings. “But I think we’ve got to appreciate this is a guy that’s logged a lot of service time. The stuff is still good, and you’re betting on the fact that the focus will get a lot better once he gets here and the interest becomes more focused interest.”
Kopech, acquired this past offseason in a three-team trade with the White Sox and Cardinals, was expected to be a key arm out of the bullpen. In 2024, he delivered on that promise, posting a 1.13 ERA over 24 regular-season appearances and contributing in 10 postseason games despite later revealing he was pitching at just 60% health in October.
The Dodgers clearly believe the upside remains. Kopech isn’t a pitcher who thrives on pinpoint control — he’s power over precision, and much of his rehab was aimed at rebuilding arm strength and rediscovering his elite fastball. Roberts emphasized that while the minor league performance hasn’t inspired confidence on paper, the underlying tools are coming back into form.
“There’s a sequencing component they weren’t doing,” Roberts noted. “Just kind of getting the fastball built up, the velocity. So there’s things that we feel we’re not too concerned if we choose to activate him.”
That decision could come any day now. Roberts confirmed Kopech is already in Los Angeles and being evaluated. Though no hard date has been set for activation, the expectation is that he’ll return shortly — as long as he checks out physically.
The timing couldn’t be more crucial. The Dodgers currently have 15 pitchers on the injured list, including closer Evan Phillips (Tommy John surgery), Luis Garcia, and multiple members of the starting rotation. Blake Snell is nearing a bullpen session, and Roki Sasaki is still working his way back, while Tyler Glasnow’s progress has slowed after a mound session.
In the meantime, the Dodgers have scrambled to plug holes by acquiring Alexis Díaz and adding arms like José Ureña and Will Klein. Kopech’s return, however, could provide something the others can’t: high-leverage upside, backed by previous success in the role and an overpowering fastball when healthy.
If his velocity holds and command sharpens — even marginally — the Dodgers might get one of their most important bullpen pieces back just in time.