MIAMI — Almost three weeks after he was shut down with pain in his throwing shoulder, Gavin Stone still has not resumed throwing and it is “very unlikely” he will pitch again in the regular season or postseason.
During the Dodgers’ series in Altanta, Manager Dave Roberts said Stone was expected to try playing catch. But Stone is still experiencing discomfort in his throwing shoulder and has not picked up a baseball.
While Stone said he is still hopeful he can start throwing next week, Roberts said it is “very unlikely” that Stone will pitch again this year, regular season or postseason.
“I just think the possibility of him coming back this season is very unlikely,” Roberts said. “I just don’t see it happening this year.”
Stone, however, has not given up hope.
“Mindset-wise, hopefully I can come back,” he said. “I don’t know for sure obviously. But hopefully when I start throwing again there’s no pain and everything.”
Stone got off to a rough start in the big leagues last season, going 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA in eight games. This year, however, he became the most reliable pitcher in the Dodgers’ starting rotation for the first five months of the season. He made 25 starts and threw 140⅓ innings – both team-highs – while going 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA.
But his shoulder started getting sore after a rough five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 31. The soreness has improved Stone said Wednesday.
“I feel better than I did after Arizona,” Stone said. “Hopefully I’ll throw next week, see how it feels.”
KERSHAW BULLPEN
Left-hander Clayton Kershaw threw his second bullpen session in the past week. This one lasted approximately 80 pitches – more than double the length of most bullpen sessions – and was “pretty encouraging,” Roberts said.
“For him to be able to take the mound and throw 80-something pitches is a good thing,” Roberts said.
The chances of the three-time Cy Young Award winner making a start before the end of the regular season improved accordingly.
“I think for Clayton, the calendar is certainly working against us,” Roberts said. “The minor-league season is coming to a close (on Sunday). Basically letting time take shape, let it continue to heal, keep his arm going, keep that intensity up and then there’s going to be a point whenever we all come together and decide to fire that bullet and let him pitch for us. I’m holding out hope that it happens. I don’t think anyone knows when it’s going to happen. But today was a big step in the right direction.
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“Whenever we feel that he can pitch in a game, we’re going to try to do it. It’s still no guarantee. But if things continue to trend the way they are, I’m hopeful.”
ROSTER MOVES
The Dodgers demoted pitchers Bobby Miller and Michael Grove to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Reliever Joe Kelly was activated from the injured list and left-hander Zach Logue was promoted from Triple-A. Tyler Glasnow was moved to the 60-day IL to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Logue.
It is the second demotion this season for Miller. After going 11-4 with a 3.76 ERA as a rookie last season, he finishes 2-4 with an 8.52 ERA this season – the highest ERA in the majors for any pitcher who threw more than 42 innings.
Logue, 28, has a 3-8 record and 6.88 ERA in 17 games with the Oakland A’s and Detroit Tigers over the past two seasons. He spent this year in the Atlanta Braves’ system but was designated for assignment earlier this month. The Dodgers signed him to a minor-league contract and he made one start for OKC, allowing one run on five hits in three innings.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Jack Flaherty, 12-7, 3.04 ERA) at Marlins (RHP Edward Cabrera, 3-6, 5.33), Thursday, 1:40 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, 570 AM