It's a sentence we've become all too familiar with this season. One of the best pitchers in baseball in 2017, Los Angeles Dodgers starter Alex Wood is headed for the disabled list with left SC joint inflammation. In corresponding moves, Los Angeles promoted pitcher Brandon Morrow and placed pitcher Brock Stewart on the 60-day disabled list. The news was first reported by SportsNetLA's Alanna Rizzo.
Wood's placement on the disabled list certainly leaves some to question. Los Angeles frequently has used the disabled list this season to rotate multiple starters in and out of the rotation given their immense depth. Kenta Maeda, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy have all spent time on the 10-day disabled list this season with various injuries.
But Wood's spot on the DL feels a little different. While those starters certainly have produced, Wood's numbers are up amongst the best in all of baseball. Across 48 innings pitched this season, 42 2/3 out of the rotation, the 26-year-old southpaw dominated opposing hitters with a sparkling 1.69 ERA, 1.85 FIP and 60/15 K/BB ratio. In his most recent start on Friday against the Chicago Cubs, Wood struck out eight batters and surrendered just four base runners across five innings.
The good news is, the SC joint inflammation doesn't sound too severe. Wood's confidence that he could pitch through the issue speaks some to the level of pain he is dealing with and while pitchers will often do what it takes to stay on the mound, it at least lessens some concern that Wood could be out for an extended period of time. But Los Angeles made the right decision to put him on the disabled list given the rotation depth they have in the majors and Triple-A.
Los Angeles Times' reporter Andy McCullough also reported that Ryu is the likeliest pitcher to slide into Wood's rotation spot. The 30-year-old lefty has struggled this year with a 4.28 ERA, 5.22 FIP and 1.5 WHIP across 40 innings, but he did most recently throw four shutout innings with just three base runners allowed in a save on May 25. Ryu will likely start on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, he is a risky DFS play that lacks much upside.