Dodgers News: Chris Capuano Eyes Weekend Return From Groin Injury

The Dodgers are starting to hit on all cylinders as they’re getting healthier with the return of Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez. Unfortunately, it sounds like Andre Ethier is still behind schedule with his ankle injury, but starter Chris Capuano is making progress from a groin injury.

Capuano left his start on September 6 against the Reds with the injury and that led to the signing of Edinson Volquez as he’s taken over the fifth starter spot in the rotation. Still, the lefty believes he can be helpful out of the bullpen according to Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com:

There’s only six games left and in a dream world, I’d get in one or two, he said. Today went as good as it could go. What I want is to get very close to 100 percent by the end of the season and put them in position to have me as an option.

In the NLDS, the Dodgers won’t need a fifth starter and Capuano’s best chance to making the playoff roster would be as the long man out of the bullpen. With lefties Paco Rodriguez and J.P. Howell, it’s unknown whether or not manager Don Mattingly would want to carry a third lefty reliever.

A free agent at the end of the season, Capuano is 4-7 with a 4.34 ERA and has had a truly remarkable up-and-down season as he gave up zero or five runs for close to two months.

Regardless, it sounds like Capuano wants a chance to prove that he’s healthy enough for a playoff spot and he’ll have to show that he’d be a valuable asset.

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In case you missed it, here’s the Dodgers pool celebration, PLUS Yasiel Puig’s celebration dance off!

http://youtu.be/LknQOqL7uME