Dodgers Suffer Injury Blow Before Cardinals Game

The Los Angeles Dodgers (38-26) have battled other teams and the injury bug on their way to first place this season. Their pitching staff is especially hurt, including two-way star Shohei Ohtani (elbow/shoulder). The three-time MVP is playing every day as a designated hitter, but he likely won't pitch until after the All-Star break, via MLB.com.

Left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder), right-hander Edgardo Henriquez (foot), right-hander Evan Phillips (elbow), right-hander Tyler Glasnow (shoulder), right-hander Emmet Sheehan (elbow), right-hander Luis Garcia (adductor), right-hander Roki Sasaki (shoulder), right-hander Kyle Hurt (elbow), right-hander Blake Treinen (forearm), right-hander Brusdar Graterol (shoulder), right-hander River Ryan (elbow), right-hander Gavin Stone (shoulder), and right-hander Michael Grove (labrum) are all on the mend for the Dodgers.

Another starting pitcher joined the list on Saturday, via the team's social media.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin (26).

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

"The Dodgers activated RHPs Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates from the injured list, designated RHP Chris Stratton for assignment and placed RHP Tony Gonsolin on the injured list with right elbow discomfort," the club announced before its bout with the St. Louis Cardinals (35-28) on Saturday afternoon. 

Gonsolin is 3-2 with a 5.00 ERA over seven starts this season.

The 31-year-old didn't pitch last year and coughed up a 4.85 ERA over 20 starts in 2023. His best campaign was in 2022, when he went 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA across 24 starts.

Los Angeles is one game ahead of the San Diego Padres (36-26) and two ahead of the San Francisco Giants (36-28) for first place in the NL West.