Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin suffered a left ankle sprain during a pitcher-fielding practice on Monday. The club has downplayed the injury’s longer-term severity, but manager Dave Roberts indicated this evening the right-hander wasn’t in great position for Opening Day (via Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic and Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times).
On a positive note, Roberts noted that x-rays have come back negative. However, Gonsolin’s ankle is still swollen and the manager said he “doesn’t feel good” about the All-Star hurler being ready for the start of the season. Gonsolin isn’t expected to throw again for several days, and Harris notes that it’s not out of the question he could eventually go for an MRI.
Gonsolin has spent some time on the injured list in each of the past two seasons. He has battled shoulder and forearm concerns. The ankle issue is obviously less worrisome than arm issues, although it could keep him out of action early in the year. Gonsolin has never topped 24 MLB starts in a season, with last year’s 130 1/3 innings representing a career best.
The St. Mary’s product had an excellent year on a rate basis, however. He posted a 2.14 ERA, striking out an above-average 23.9% of opposing hitters while walking only 7% of opponents. Gonsolin picked up swinging strikes on a strong 12.3% of his offerings and did a solid job avoiding hard contact.
If he’s forced to start the season on the injured list, the Dodgers will have to find a short-term rotation replacement, as they’re scheduled for just one off day within the schedule’s first two weeks. Julio Urías, Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard and Dustin May look to be established in the top four spots. Right-handers Ryan Pepiot, Michael Grove and Andre Jackson are all on the 40-man roster. Pepiot would seem to have the upper hand among that group if L.A. needed a couple starts in Gonsolin’s stead early in the year.
Catman won’t be in the kennel for long.
I’m too dumb to know which one that is
Excellent kitty litter comment!
Gonsolin can’t even make to opening day without getting injured. That under bet on 128 IP O/U is looking better and better.
Yep, sounds about right. Over/under 200 innings total between Gonsolin/May?
I’ll take the over.
who knows, but hard to imagine May having another big setback, and Gonsolin’s arm seems ok, so I’ll say over. I hope they’re both healthy all season.
The thinking by our resident sports medicine experts seems to be that May will need a second TJ some time this season.
Life is truly a mystery! I mean, there are things one never sees coming even when they are headed straight at you with miles of visibility, and then there are injuries to key starting pitchers in ST.
Dodgers always underestimate. He’ll be back at the all star break.
“Gonsolin isn’t expected to throw again for several days, and Harris notes that it’s not out of the question he could eventually go for an MRI.”
If he’s not throwing for several days and you’re the second-most-valuable team in the league, why aren’t you having an MRI done now?
Easy. Either swelling is too severe to see the extent of damage, or they don’t think it’s that bad
According to the Mayo Clinic, an MRI can be used to determine the cause of swelling, which would seem to indicate that swelling is no obstacle to getting an MRI:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swollen-knee/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20378134
And if “they don’t think it’s that bad,” what do they have to lose by finding out how bad it is? The Dodgers can afford an MRI.
How much do you charge for your consultations?
Reputation. A medical professional needing an MRI to diagnose a sprained ankle is embarrassing.
The Yankees fooled around when Teixeira fouled a ball off his leg, originally diagnosing a bone bruise. Three weeks later, they finally got an MRI and found a fracture, ending his season. He needlessly risked aggravating the injury by playing through pain in two more games in which he batted .000.
I guess they need to hire some sports medicine experts.
I know, right?
Apparently you do, and the people with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, don’t.
Apparently so. As James Bond once famously said: “Shocking.”
Would an MRI on Gonsolin technically be a Cat scan?
Way off the subject but,,,, does anyone know what’s happened to “Cey Hey”? I haven’t seen him on this site for almost a year.
Dodgers are leaking oil all over the place. They aren’t the team to beat in that division.
The Dodgers are favored to win the division by every major sports prognosticator, so I guess they are the team to beat?
San Diego has pitching issues
Rub some dirt on it