Los Angeles Dodgers Reliever Joe Kelly Heads to Injured List With Forearm Issue

The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed relief pitcher Joe Kelly on the 15-day injured list with right forearm inflammation, the team announced Sunday afternoon.

The move was made retroactive to Aug. 10, meaning Kelly will be eligible to return Aug. 25 against the Boston Red Sox.

Kelly hasn't pitched since Aug. 9, when he tossed 1.0 scoreless inning and notched a hold against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 35-year-old right-hander made four appearances with the Dodgers after heading to Los Angeles at the MLB Trade Deadline, posting a 0.00 ERA, 1.091 WHIP and 17.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Chicago White Sox traded Kelly and starting pitcher Lance Lynn to the Dodgers on July 28 in exchange for veteran outfielder Trayce Thompson, right-handed pitcher Nick Nastrini and right-handed pitcher Jordan Leasure. Nastrini was a top-10 prospect in Los Angeles' farm system.

Including his time with the White Sox, Kelly is 2-5 with a 4.41 ERA, 1.286 WHIP and 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings this season.

Kelly, after starting his career with the St. Louis Cardinals and breaking out with the Red Sox, first joined the Dodgers in 2019. The reliever spent three seasons in Los Angeles, going 7-4 with a 3.59 ERA, 1.225 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

The White Sox are paying $5.85 million of Kelly's $9 million salary this season, while the Dodgers have a $9.5 million option on Kelly's contract for next season. If they do not pick it up, the team will owe Kelly a $1 million buyout.

Los Angeles has struggled with injuries to its pitching staff this season. Two-time All-Star Walker Buehler has yet to appear this year, while young stud Dustin May is likely out for the next 11 months. Clayton Kershaw just returned from over a month on the injured list, but Shelby Miller, Daniel Hudson and Tyler Cyr remain on the 60-day injured list.

Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol and Caleb Ferguson will hang around as the meat of the Dodgers' bullpen with Kelly and the others out.

After taking Monday off, the Dodgers will host the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday in a battle of two first-place teams. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET.

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