Tony Gonsolin leads MLB in ERA, wins, and walks and hits allowed per inning pitched. The Dodgers placed the right-hander on the injured list Monday with forearm tightness. For most teams, that would be a crisis. The Dodgers are treating it as a minor annoyance. Manager Dave Roberts said he was thinking about resting Gonsolin, anyway.
Normally, I’m skeptical when team officials downplay injuries to important players. That’s especially true with injuries to pitchers, which are notoriously difficult to predict. The Dodgers saw their 2021 World Series hopes damaged by ailing arms. Could it be happening again?
I doubt it. I believe the Dodgers when they say they’re just taking it easy with Gonsolin. For one thing, Gonsolin also is downplaying the injury. Also, there really is no use in Gonsolin pushing his luck. The Dodgers (89-38) are miles ahead of the Padres in the National League West and eight games clear of the Mets for the NL’s No. 1 seed (all records and stats before Tuesday’s games).
