Dodgers News: Zack Greinke Has ‘Creeping Concern’ In Elbow

Josh Beckett was lost to the disabled list with numerous issues, while sixth man Paul Maholm was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Then Hyun-Jin Ryu went on the disabled list with a strained glute. General manager Ned Colletti acquired veteran arms in Roberto Hernandez and Kevin Correia, who have combined for three solid starts and now find themselves in the rotation.

According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, the Dodgers could have an issue with another one of their starting pitchers:

Those were triggered by injuries to Josh Beckett and Hyun-Jin Ryu, as well as creeping concern over Zack Greinke’s elbow.

While nothing has been said in terms of Greinke missing any time, the right-hander has struggled in his recent starts. In his last three starts, he has allowed nine total runs (seven earned) and had trouble finding the plate in his last start. There have not been talks of a DL stint for the former Cy Young award winner; however, the Dodgers could choose to skip his turn in the rotation with some days off ahead.

Without Greinke and uncertainty around Ryu’s return, the Dodgers’ rotation goes from one of the best to a question mark down the stretch. While Hernandez and Correia have done well thus far, they are not proven pitchers by any means. Also, Dan Haren followed a pair of strong starts with a disastrous one on Sunday and is too inconsistent to be counted on. The only sure thing at the moment is that Clayton Kershaw will take the ball every fifth day and give the team a chance to win each time he goes out.

The Dodgers will have to hope that Greinke is fine and that they will be able to count on him for the pennant race.