Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Caleb Ferguson came into the game to start the eighth inning last night. A lot of fans likely felt good when he came out firing strikes, as per the usual. Ferguson has been a strikeout machine this year with 26 punchouts in 18 innings. So far this year, he has pitched to an ERA of 2.95 and a WHIP of 1.036. When he entered the game, it was an important inning—the bottom of the eighth with a red-hot San Diego Padres team down 3-1. The first batter was Jurickson Profar, who was two-for-two on the day already. The 24-year-old came out firing and made short work of Profar—quickly recording his first strikeout. He did grimace a bit on the third strike, but it seemed like just a good hard pitch. However, Ferguson immediately signaled for the training staff to come out with an apparent arm injury.
There was not much talk, rubbing, stretching, or anything else. Ferguson just walked off the field with the trainers and Dave Roberts, as Blake Treinen came in to finish up the eighth. The grimace was worrisome upon watching the replay because it looked like a potential forearm or elbow injury. This is especially worrisome in Ferguson’s case because he already had Tommy John surgery on that elbow in high school. After the game Dave Roberts was optimistic, but he is an optimist, and hence, usually optimistic. He did confirm a couple of important facts. It is his elbow, and it did not present as a UCL injury. Tests were inconclusive, and Ferguson is returning to Los Angeles for further tests at which time we will know more.
Rest of the Game
After the apparent injury, Blake Treinen came in and finished out the eighth. After that, it was closer Kenley Jansen in a save situation. Jansen, who blew the first game of the series, was less than stellar—loading the bases with only one out. When it was all said and done, after the two singles and walk, he retired Wil Myers and rookie phenom Jake Cronenworth on strikeouts to notch his 11th save. The Dodgers won the series against a hot Padres team that they very well could see in the Division Series. The Dodgers still have the best record in baseball, at 34-15, and are now two-and-a-half games in front of the Padres in the West.
Main Image
Embed from Getty Images
