LOS ANGELES -- Brett Anderson will make his return to the Dodgers on Thursday from a blister that landed him yet again on the disabled list, just in time to get a good look from Los Angeles as it determines its fourth starter for the playoffs.
Anderson, who will start the series opener vs. the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, saw horrendous results in his only two starts of 2016 after missing the first four months of the season due to back surgery, allowing 11 runs across four innings. That adds up to a 24.75 ERA.
Injuries also continued to dog Anderson after returning from surgery. He tweaked his wrist lunging for a ground ball in his first start, then had to leave his second start due to a blister that forced him onto the 15-day DL.
Anderson was strong in his most recent rehab appearance, allowing three hits and one run in five innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City in Game 3 of the Pacific Coast League playoffs. He threw 54 pitches, 41 for strikes, and had an encouraging scouting report.
"The blister, the finger was in much better shape," manager Dave Roberts said. "Brett, he's got to pitch off his sinker and the blister was impeding that sinker when he was pitching up here. That start was very good. The velocity on the fastball, the depth of the sinker was back. For us, that's the most telling factor."
The Dodgers' first three starters for the postseason are all but set barring injury, with Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda set to take the ball. However, the fourth spot is very much up for grabs for a multitude of pitchers.
One of those possible starters, Brandon McCarthy, took another step in his rehab Tuesday. The right-hander threw five simulated innings and approximately 75 pitches at Dodger Stadium.
"Four-pitch mix, fastball, curve, change, cutter. For me, the fastball command was very good and I saw a lot of swing and miss," Roberts said.
McCarthy hit the disabled list in mid-August with right hip stiffness after his fastball command took a nosedive over multiple starts. He allowed 10 runs (five earned) in four innings during a rehab start Sept. 5 with Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga. He called his line "ridiculous" after the game, but said he was still pleased with his stuff.
Roberts said McCarthy's role after his return is still to be determined, so working out of the bullpen might also be a possibility.
Hyun-Jin Ryu (elbow) was also pitching at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, throwing 25 pitches in the bullpen. However, Roberts reiterated what he said Monday, that Ryu's rehab is more about preparing him for the offseason and any chance of Ryu making the playoff roster is slim.