WASHINGTON -- The Dodgers' pitcher-injury woes continued on Wednesday, when the team announced that lefty Alex Wood will miss eight weeks after undergoing an elbow debridement in New York.
The bad news comes just one day after the Dodgers placed Hyun-Jin Ryu on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his left elbow and revealed that Clayton Kershaw had suffered a setback in his rehab from a back injury, with surgery a possibility. Los Angeles has already used 12 starting pitchers this season, tied for the most in the Majors.
Wood, who hasn't pitched since May 30, has a 3.99 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings this season.
With Wood, Kershaw and Ryu all out, the Dodgers will continue to rely on rotation stalwarts Kenta Maeda and Scott Kazmir, as well as the newly healthy Brandon McCarthy, the newly acquired Bud Norris and the newly recalled Julio Urías.
Manager Dave Roberts said that his feelings about Wood's setback go beyond concern about the rotation.
"It's more of just being disappointed for Alex," Roberts said. "He was pitching so well before he got hurt initially. He had such high hopes for the season, and to come back and want to contribute and have another setback was very disappointing for all of us."
Though Roberts hopes Wood can pitch again this season, he is unlikely to return to the rotation and would more likely find a role in the bullpen down the stretch.
"Come September ... [it's an] 'all hands on deck' situation, so we're definitely not writing Alex Wood off," he said.