Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts announced that right-hander Joe Kelly has been removed from the team’s playoff roster following a bicep injury that occurred in the first inning of last night’s game. Left-hander David Price has been added to the 26-man roster in his place.
Kelly ran into trouble serving as an opener against the Braves, allowing a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman that ultimately proved inconsequential as the Dodgers stormed back not long after. After facing just four batters Kelly walked off the mound with what is being termed a biceps strain. Even if the Dodgers advance to the World Series this strain will prove season-ending for Kelly. Injury removals of this sort render players ineligible to return for the current or next series, meaning even a speedy recovery wouldn’t enable Kelly to rejoin the pen.
Despite last night’s hardships Kelly had been a reliable weapon out of the bullpen for Roberts, as he allowed just one run in 4 2/3 playoff innings up to that point. That had continued a trend of strong work this year, as the bespectacled reliever finished the season with an impressive 2.86 ERA/3.08 FIP, a 27.5% strikeout rate, and 58.4% roundball rate across 44 innings.
Price meanwhile has served as a utility pitcher of sorts in his first regular season action with Dodgers. Following his opt-out of last year’s shortened season Price has embraced the role of occasional starter, middle reliever, and game finisher. Opposing batters haven’t had much difficulty facing the former Cy Young winner, hitting .272/.339/.428 with just a 17.8% strikeout rate. An above average ability to avoid hard contact and keep the ball out of the air however has allowed the lefty to post a serviceable 4.03 ERA/ 4.23 FIP across 73 2/3 innings this year.
In one more piece of ominous Dodgers news, Roberts also reported that left-handed reliever Justin Bruihl is dealing with arm soreness. On the year the rookie pitched to a 2.89 ERA/ 3.97 FIP with a strong 50% roundball rate across 18 2/3 innings. While the lefty sported only a 15.1% strikeout rate in his inaugural season he displayed much stronger bat-missing abilities in the minors throughout his career, frequently checking in with strikeout rates north of 30%. A call hasn’t been made on whether or not to replace Bruihl on the roster just yet, though this continues an unwelcome trend of playoff injuries for the team after replacing Justin Turner on the roster yesterday.
Interesting. I wonder how deep he can go right now inning wise.
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Doesn’t this mean Kelly is ineligible for the WS should the Dodgers make it even if he’s again healthy?
If he sees the field, the Dodgers are in big trouble
I think Price could easily pitch multiple innings, just not well. I am hoping that they won’t need him.
The Price is wrong.
*cue Woody Harrelson singing The Kelly Song on Cheers*
Boo whoo
Braves gonna choke it once again its what all teams from the state of Georgia do.
And why I’m a raging alcoholic.
If they don’t win tomorrow then all the pressure will be on them in Game 7
They arent gonna win 6 and 7 its over because of the georgia teams curse.
UGA will also lose to Bama later on as well
I’m a Dodger fan, but I think the Braves will likely win one of these next two by default. I said in one of the threads before the end of the Dodgers/Giants series both of these teams will be exhausted for the next round after chasing each other for 162 + 5 postseason games. Just in the series, LA has lost 3 players. Scherzer arm is “dead” and Urias has thrown about 100 innings over his career high
Also, it’s nearly impossible to blown 2 3-1 series deficits in back to back postseason to the same team
I don’t claim any special knowledge of who is going to win but I do know that any team that gets this far is running on fumes. Exhaustion in the nature of playing deep into the postseason. Also have to challenge your argument for what is possible. Nothing that happens this year is in the least bit dependent on what happened last year. If you flip a coin and get three heads in a row, your chances of flipping another heads is still 50-50. As for Urias, I’m not expecting to see him pitch again in this series, one way or another but I also know the limitations that preventing him from pitching more innings before this year no longer exist.
There are no chokers in this series, two good teams. If Braves had their current roster all season, they would have won more games. Dodgers, who have 112 wins, have out scored Braves 25 to 24 in series, but Braves won 2 of 3 of the 1-run games. For either team that loses there will be disappointment but no shame.
People who resort to the word “choke” need to widen their vocabulary. One team wins, the other team loses. Both have had outstanding seasons, regardless of what happens this weekend and in the World Series. If a fan is still “depressed” the afternoon after the final loss, therapy is a reasonable option.
As for fans who insist on blaming one person for a loss, I suggest listening to this, which in my opinion is the greatest song ever written about baseball. Listen and think. And for extra credit, see if you can pick out all 18 baseball people mentioned in the lyrics.
“Buckner’s Bolero” — The Baseball Project
youtube.com/watch?v=5ZsgubsI4Mo
That Donnie Moore line O_O
Preach Manny, we need more good apples like you around to balance this place out
Big baby. Boo hoo⚾️
BBH is just reacting from fear and I feel it too. It feels like we’ve just had to much heart break from Atlanta metro area sports. It’s completely subjective as I’m sure many fans of many teams would probably speak similarly.
What really is NOT subjective is the fact that the Braves could end up blowing two different 3 to 1 game leads in back to back postseason series against the same team. I can’t say for certain if the Braves would be the first team to do that but if they aren’t the list of teams that have has to be pretty short. Just like BBH, I wouldnt relish the Braves holding that record or perhaps keeping the company of the teams that have.
Imagine having one of your key bullpen pieces go out with an injury in the middle of the League Championship Series, and being able to replace him with … a former Cy Young winner and twice runner-up, with 100 innings of postseason experience. Not bad what money will buy.
David Price is a shell of his former cy young self, this is almost as amusing as how it was said yesterday that our money can afford us to bring in future hall of famer Albert Pujols to fill in for Muncy
Price was a throw in salary dump for the Betts deal. Pujols was signed after he was cut. Dodgers only were big spenders due to Betts and Bauer, and Bauer isn’t coming back. Scherzer replaces Kershaw and May. Game 6 should be fun, same for Game 7, if there is one.
The Dodgers are only paying Betts $3 million more than what the Red Sox were paying him. Regarding Price and every other MLB player, I don’t get why fans are so caught up in how much money players make. Every team in baseball can afford to pay high salaries. Many just choose not to. This includes those small-market teams who cry poverty while pocketing the enormous profits they make each season.
So basically what you are saying is that the Florida Marlins can spend like the Dodgers, they just choose not to?
yeah…I don’t think so.
I could tell he wasn’t saying that.
Didn’t the Marlins sign Stanton, Yelich, and Ozuna? And then tore it all down because of their horrible FA pitching signings. Chen? Remember him? So these smaller market can be aggressive if they want to.
Exactly, “former” Cy Young winner. Former as in 9 years ago.
Price is probably worth a 1/3 today….and he get’s that 3 off the name on the back of the jersey. If he enters the game it probably means our season is over…or we are up 9-2 in the 7th
I forgot this guy still played.
He plays all the time, that’s why he’s so good at Fortnite.
kinda crazy that the dodgers are going with no turner, muncy, kershaw, kelly right now. next thing you know kenley and taylor will be out
add Bauer, May, Rios, Alexander, Gonzales and Ferguson……
I’m not a believer in crying over injured and other unavailable players. Atlanta has had their share as well, including their best starting pitcher (Soroka) for the season, and a Top 10 position player (Acuna) and impact slugger (Ozuna) for much of it. Teams just need to keep working hard and riding the guys they have left. If they don’t win the championship, it’s no big deal. Just be proud of what you’ve accomplished and try again next year.
Agree but the Dodgers are missing 60% of their opening day rotation and their 3rd & 4th hitters. That’s kinda crazy.
Kershaw and Turner….it’s what happens players hit 35.
He’s in mid-season form considering how sporadic he was used throughout the season. It’s a mystery as to why they’ve babied him all year.
The Dodger hitters won’t be able to steal signs on the road, but who knows.
Hopefully, they get it done.
You just might be the worst troll on here. Congrats, I guess.
I mean, of course, you will be in denial regardless. I guess it is just magic for Bellinger and Taylor to suddenly hit again at a great time. They call it home field advantage for a reason.
The Dodgers have Fried’s number. They probably picked up on something in regards to pitch tipping.
Then why did they get blown out in Game 4, at home?
At this point, we’ve realized that for decades, baseball was involved with all sorts of cheating so clearly, it’s just part of the game. Fans need to realize that it has never been a pure game, even from the start.
If they were stealing signs, they must have stopped for game 4 when they only scored 2 runs at home. Against a bullpen game.
Let’s face it, Price is a very mediocre pitcher at this stage of his career. If the Dodgers have to use him when the game is close it’s a very bad sign as he will get spanked by the Braves. He was hit hard this season and I would expect the same against a good Atlanta lineup.
This was the only post necessary for the entire thread
Nice work 2015
Braves Butt-Head, spot on!!!! So that’s why I also get smashed by the 4th inning! Can the Bravos please just win this game with no drama tomorrow so I can switch to straight sweet tea instead of 3 jugs Chippers Moonshine. “Stuff is delicious btw”
Chipper makes moonshine? I’m Jonesing
Georgia, Georgia the whole day through. Just an old sweet songgggggggg, that’s got Georgia on my mind!!!
Price is awful if we have to use him we are down big
Two 50-50 games so the Dodgers have around a 25 percent chance of winning both.
Whether Dodger starting pitching is rested or exhausted will certainly be a factor. I don’t think Price will be pitching unless it is a blowout or well into extra innings and no other option remains.
Reading way too much into probabilities. If Mad Max is rested and feels well the series is basically a lock to go 7. Once there anything can happen.
Hard to be guided by probabilities with such a strong human factor:
Which Scherzer shows up? The one that’s gutted it out through the last few starts or the dominant monster from his first 10 Dodgers starts? What about Buehler?
Will the Braves continue on their hot streak with their swagger or will they begin to tighten up, with last year being at the back of their minds?
Do the Dodgers’ bats look like they did last night or revert to the form they’ve shown since the WC game?
Will Soler’s return make a difference?
So many different angles here.
As a Dodgers fan, my hopes are obvious. They’ve won 3 or more in a row 15 times this season, often against good competition, so there’s no reason to think they can’t do it again. However, I think it’s extremely unlikely they win 2 more here, even with a potential starting pitching advantage in both games. They’re just too inconsistent with the bats lately to trust.
Going into game 6, I give the overall edge the Braves and think they end the series right there. If it does get to game 7, I think the Braves will be wound too tightly, giving the Dodgers the advantage.
No mention of how much time he’s spent playing video games. I would hope that he’s at least playing MLB The Shows and pretending he’s playing in the playoffs. Would be interesting to know if he threw a no-hitter in any of those games.
Dodgers going home in game 6. Gotta think Braves put their best foot forward tomorrow night. If they lose they will have immense pressure game seven. With all the dodger injuries muncy, kershaw, Kelly, Turner the Braves would stand a better chance in World Series against stros or possibly the Red Sox
I’m not giving up on the Braves both teams are not at full strength, I’m not going to sit here and play the what ifs or who does it have who it’s just a dang good baseball series and I really hope the Braves wrap it up in game 6. People who use the word choke or wanted to sit here and troll have nothing else better to do in life and they want to take the joy away from true baseball fans.
Well said BF70
Sadly that’s the vast majority {these days} in here
Exactly and the thing is most people want to troll the Braves or say how they didn’t do this or didn’t do that but damn most teams couldn’t do what they’ve done this year. I’m proud either way it will hurt if things don’t work out but I have the faith and they will fight till the absolute end.
People are jus A- holes these days…want to concentrate on the bad all the time. I question if 75% of these posters even watch baseball and just use this website for boredom and an avenue to vent all their own personal anger.
Just enjoy the games, man…its been a great series, Ive had a blast watching it
Im a Dodgers fan BTW !
This team has fought and fought and fought all year long. Losing Acuna, heartbreaking lose of Soroka again. Ozuna mess, Travis goes down on a crazy play at the plate and on and on. I tell friends it takes a ton to be a Braves fan. Watched every heartbreaking moment. But I will say this, I was at that Brewers series and ain’t nothing like Braves Country! We screamed and Chopped outer heads off. Truly passionate fans that care down to the bone. It’s just different down here in the South and in the A! We are not Hollywood or glamorous or have a 250 Mil payroll. We grind, scrape, and Battle. Gotta win tomorrow. I want to be at Truist for the World Series Chopping my a** off!!!
Go Braves and Chop on!!!
I’d love to get a world series ticket but I know that’s not going to be cheap if it happens and when it happens
I hear ya, I’m gonna price from the nose bleeds then work my way down. Heck, I had a great time way up there and most people are walking around or standing on the lower levels anyway.
Standing room only tickets for tomorrow are $150. No seats available.