Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: May be leading closer candidate
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The Dodgers don't plan on having a set closer to begin the season, but if they do eventually decide to designate one, Graterol and Daniel Hudson (knee) are the leading candidates, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.
The Dodgers have given no indication that they'll designate a primary fireman at any point this season, so they could very well go with a committee approach for the entire campaign. However, if that changes, Graterol figures to be atop the list of potential closers given his ability to throw hard and his success last season. The fireballer posted a 3.26 ERA, 0.99 ERA and 43:10 K:BB over 49.2 innings while picking up 10 holds and four saves, though he also endured two stints on the injured list. With that said, fantasy managers hunting saves may be best served to avoid Los Angeles relievers altogether given the real possibility that closing chances may be split between multiple pitchers throughout the campaign.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Inks one-year deal
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Graterol signed a one-year, $1.225 million contract with the Dodgers on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Graterol put together a very nice season in 2022 with a 3.26 ERA and 0.99 WHIP through 49.2 frames. However, injuries to his shoulder and elbow kept him out for nearly two months. The 24-year-old reliever has the stuff and the numbers to justify a potential move into a closer or primary setup role if he can stay healthy.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Collects fourth save
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Graterol struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Rockies.
Graterol struggled in his last appearance, which came as an opener Thursday versus the Padres. He allowed two runs on three hits in one inning in that outing, but he looked much more comfortable back in his usual high-leverage role Saturday. The save was his fourth of the season and his first since July 10. The 24-year-old right-hander now has a 3.14 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 43:10 K:BB while adding 10 holds, a blown save and a 2-3 record through 48.2 innings this season. The Dodgers' ninth-inning usage is a full-blown committee at this point, so it's unclear who might operate as the closer in the postseason.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Will operate as opener
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Graterol will serve as the team's opening pitcher in Thursday's game in San Diego, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Roberts noted that Andrew Heaney will pitch "somewhere behind" Graterol, likely functioning as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen in what had been his typical turn through the rotation. Since Graterol hasn't recorded more than six outs in any of his appearances in the majors or minors this season, he likely won't be asked to face any batter more than once before giving way to the bullpen.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Throws scoreless inning in return
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Graterol struck out one batter in a perfect inning against Arizona on Thursday.
Graterol missed over three weeks due to an elbow issue before he was activated Thursday. The right-hander was immediately given high-leverage work when he was called upon in the eighth inning with the score tied 1-1. Graterol threw 12 strikes among his 16 pitches and retired the side in order. He could be a key factor down the stretch and in the playoffs with Craig Kimbrel possibly losing his hold on the closer role and Blake Treinen's status uncertain due to a shoulder injury.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Will be activated Thursday
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Graterol (elbow) will be activated off the 15-day injured list Thursday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Graterol was placed on the injured list at the beginning of the month due to inflammation in his right elbow. He spent much of July and August on the injured list as well, and threw 4.1 scoreless innings in between IL stints. His return will provide a huge boost to a Los Angeles bullpen that has been dealing with a plethora of injuries late in the season.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Return inching closer
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Graterol (elbow) felt strong while facing live hitters Monday, and the team expects him back in the near future, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Manager Dave Roberts noted that Graterol should be activated from the 15-day injured list shortly after Blake Treinen, who is on track to return Thursday. His exact return date will likely be dictated by how he feels following Monday's session.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Nearly ready to face hitters
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Graterol (elbow) will face hitters Monday and could be activated next week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Graterol hit the injured list with right elbow inflammation at the start of September. He wasn't shut down from throwing for long, however, and while the Dodgers don't need to push anyone down the stretch, it look as though he'll return for roughly the final two weeks of the regular season.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Another bullpen on tap
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Graterol (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.
Graterol is set to toss his second side session since being cleared to throw off a mound. If all goes well, he figures to have a chance to be activated Friday when first eligible, though the Dodgers are unlikely to reveal next steps until he completes Wednesday's session.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Will throw bullpen session Sunday
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Graterol (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Sunday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
It was reported earlier this week that Graterol was on the verge of throwing off a mound, and he will indeed just do that this weekend. There remains a chance he could return to action Sept. 16 when first eligible.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Could throw from mound soon
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Graterol (elbow) is expected to begin throwing from a mound soon, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
A recent MRI on Graterol's elbow came back clean, and the reliever appears to have avoided a long-term injury. If all goes well when he resumes throwing, the right-hander could be activated soon after he's eligible in mid-September. Graterol has been one of the Dodgers' most effective relievers this season, posting a 3.02 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 39:10 K:BB over 44.2 innings while notching two wins, three saves and nine holds.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Could miss more than minimum time
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he has "moderate concern" about Graterol's inflamed right elbow, which landed him on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Though Roberts said he's hopeful Graterol is ready to return from the IL by mid-to-late September, the right-hander's MRI on Friday will likely give the Dodgers a clearer idea of a recovery timeline. Given that Graterol had already been sidelined for most of the past six weeks due to an inflamed right shoulder, it's a less-than-ideal development that he's dealing with another arm-related injury. While the 24-year-old is out of the Dodgers' late-inning mix, Evan Phillips looks like the clear-cut top candidate to potentially overtake the embattled Craig Kimbrel as the team's closer.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Hits IL due to elbow issue
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The Dodgers placed Graterol on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right elbow inflammation, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Phil Bickford was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to join the bullpen as a replacement for Graterol, who hadn't pitched in any of the past three days while managing the elbow issue. According to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, Graterol had been scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, but the Dodgers elected to deactivate him a day later after he apparently didn't look as sharp in the workout as the team had hoped. With Craig Kimbrel's job security as the Dodgers' closer on shaky ground, Graterol would have been a candidate to factor into the mix for saves, but Evan Phillips now looks to be the clear next man up for the job if manager Dave Roberts elects to make a change at the back end of the bullpen. It's unclear when Graterol might be ready to return from the IL, but he'll undergo an MRI on Friday that could shed more light on his outlook moving forward, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Fans two in return
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Graterol struck out two batters in a perfect inning against Milwaukee on Monday.
Graterol's first outing in six weeks went about as smoothly as possible, as he threw 11 of 14 pitches for strikes, fanned two of the three batters he faced and hit 100 mph on the radar gun, per Sarah Wexler of MLB.com. The fireballing reliever is set to immediately resume a high-leverage role in the Dodgers' bullpen, and he could even see an occasional save opportunity given Craig Kimbrel's recent struggles.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Reinstated from injured list
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Graterol (shoulder) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Monday.
Graterol was initially targeting a return during the Dodgers' weekend series against the Marlins, but the team ultimately waited to activate him until Monday. He recently completed a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City and allowed a hit and a walk while striking out four in 3.2 scoreless innings over four appearances. He'll be available out of the bullpen for Monday's series opener against the Brewers.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Return pushed to Monday
Rotowire
Graterol (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 15-day IL on Monday versus Milwaukee, Sarah Wexler of MLB.com reports.
There was originally a plan in place for Graterol to return to the Dodgers this weekend versus Miami, but he was first supposed to make back-to-back appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City. That didn't happen because Thursday's contest was rained out, so the fireballing reliever will instead be activated Monday. Graterol has made four rehab appearances with OKC, striking out four batters over 3.2 scoreless innings.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Could return this weekend
Rotowire
Graterol (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch Wednesday and Thursday with Triple-A Oklahoma City and could be activated from the 15-day injured list during the Dodgers' three-game series against the Marlins this weekend, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Graterol began the rehab assignment with Oklahoma City last week, and pitching on back-to-back days may be the final hurdle before he rejoins the big-league roster. The 24-year-old has three saves and nine holds with a 3.35 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 35:10 K:BB across 40.1 innings this season, and he could factor into the ninth-inning mix down the stretch if closer Craig Kimbrel continues to struggle.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Begins rehab with scoreless frame
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Graterol (shoulder) issued one walk and struck out one batter in a scoreless inning for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday.
Graterol's first game action in just over a month went well, as he faced the minimum on 14 pitches. He walked the first batter he saw before inducing a double play and finishing the frame with a strikeout. Graterol will likely need a few more rehab appearances before returning to the big club.
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Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Starting rehab stint
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Graterol (shoulder) will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin a rehab assignment Friday, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.
Graterol progressed to facing live batters over the weekend and has now been cleared to enter the final stage of his rehab work. The 23-year-old has been on the shelf with the shoulder injury for the past month, so he should be able to rejoin the Dodgers sometime next week after a few outings with Oklahoma City.
Graterol (shoulder) will face hitters Saturday at Dodger Stadium, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
He reached 100 mph with his fastball during Wednesday's bullpen session and is ready to advance to live batting practice. Graterol may need a brief rehab assignment before rejoining the big-league bullpen. Blake Treinen (shoulder) is also set to face hitters Saturday.
