SAN DIEGO -- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said reliever Joe Kelly feels better each day. You just can’t tell by watching the games.
Roberts won’t disclose a diagnosis, but Kelly hasn’t pitched since facing two batters on Sept. 18. A day after saying he hoped to get Kelly into a game on Thursday, Roberts said on Wednesday that Kelly is now scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday in San Francisco and probably won’t get into a game until Sunday.
That will give management one game, plus three days off, to determine the right-hander’s health for the National League Division Series. Kelly played catch on flat ground on Wednesday, but was not throwing with full effort.
“His body is responding well. He’s in a good place. We feel good about it,” said Roberts. “He could pitch right now. We’re managing where he’s at so we can look out for four weeks and make sure he can handle the workload.”
Originally, Roberts vaguely described Kelly’s condition a “lower-body” issue. More recently it has become an “overall body” condition.
Roberts said he “absolutely” expects Kelly to be able to pitch on back-to-back days in the postseason.
Kelly has not been placed on the injured list this year, but he missed a few Spring Training games with lower back stiffness.
• Roberts said Rich Hill came out of his exciting two-inning start on Tuesday night well and is scheduled to start Sunday in San Francisco. Roberts said the goal remains for Hill to be on the NLDS roster, but even if he’s not, he could be added for the NL Championship Series or the World Series.