The Los Angeles Dodgers could be getting a key piece of their rotation back as Hyun-Jin Ryu said he felt good following his bullpen session on Tuesday and is nearing a return to the team.
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Ryu, who has been sidelined with a strained glute, threw a bullpen session in Arizona Tuesday prior to the Dodgers' 9-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"I felt no pain," Ryu told ESPN Los Angeles through an interpreter after the session.
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Barring any unforeseen setbacks, the goal is now to have Ryu return to the Dodgers' rotation on Monday when the team hosts the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium.
Ryu is slated to throw to hitters Wednesday and simulate resting between innings and hopefully join the team Monday since the 25-man rosters expand and the team won't have to make a corresponding move. Ryu will join a banged-up Los Angeles rotation that now consists of ace Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Dan Haren and Roberto Hernandez.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Ryu may return to the rotation for the weekend series against the division rival San Diego Padres, but it's too soon to tell when they will bring him back and Monday seems to be the most likely scenario.
"It could be this weekend, but we're not putting any kind of artificial timetable on it until he comes through tomorrow," Mattingly said.
Ryu hasn't pitched in 18 days and has had two stints on the disabled list this season after suffering through a sore shoulder earlier this year.
The rest may have done him well for the stretch run as the Dodgers seek their second straight National League West division title and enter Wednesday with a 75-58 record and lead the San Francisco Giants (69-62) by five games atop the division.
Ryu, 27, who had a productive 2013 campaign as a rookie, has continued his success in the Dodgers rotation this season by going 13-6 with a 3.28 ERA, 1.187 WHIP and 122 strikeouts.
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