Hyun-Jin Ryu's return is uncertain at the moment. (Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports)
DENVER — The Los Angeles Dodgers received good news Monday about left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, who underwent an MRI exam that showed no structural damage in his sore left shoulder. However, the team isn’t sure when or if he will pitch again before the season ends.
Ryu was scheduled to start Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, but he won’t pitch that game. Manager Don Mattingly did not officially name a replacement, but on Sunday in San Francisco, Mattingly said rookie Carlos Frias after a Sunday bullpen session is “working toward” that Wednesday start.
Ryu lasted one inning Friday night at San Francisco and allowed four runs. He won’t throw for at least four days after receiving a cortisone injection in his shoulder during an exam Monday in Los Angeles with Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Ryu will rejoin the Dodgers in Chicago, where they start a four-game series Thursday with the Cubs. Mattingly, while not ruling Ryu out for the remainder of the regular season, was happy to hear the results of the pitcher’s MRI.
“It’s good news as far as we’re concerned,” Mattingly said before the Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 11-3. “There’s nothing new from any of his original MRIs. … He’ll be off for the next couple days and then meet up in Chicago with us and start throwing. Then we’ll see where we’re at.”
Ryu went on the disabled list April 28 with left shoulder inflammation and missed three weeks. An MRI on his shoulder then confirmed the initial diagnosis of inflammation. Ryu did not require a rehab assignment — something unavailable now with the minor league seasons concluded — and instead threw a 75-pitch session in extended spring training before returning to the Dodgers.
After Wednesday, Ryu’s next scheduled start is Sept. 22 against the Giants. Mattingly was non-committal on whether Ryu would pitch that day, neither saying he would be available nor ruling him out.
“I don’t want to speculate,” Mattingly said. “I just want to see where this goes.”
Time does not appear to be on Ryu’s side, since there are just under two weeks left in the regular season. Mattingly sees no point in trying to rush Ryu back into a race he expects will be tight.
“I really expect it to come down to the last series of the year, honestly, so I think we’ll plan accordingly,” Mattingly said. “If we can, we’ll get him back.”
