Dodgers pitching injuries piling up after latest setback

Derek AntoineWed, Jun 3, 2026·2 min read

The Los Angeles Dodgers MLB pitching staff just took another hit. Brusdar Graterol’s comeback attempt has been derailed again, this time by a back issue that surfaced during his minor-league rehab assignment. MLB.com’s injury tracker listed Graterol as recovering from right shoulder surgery and a lower back injury, with no timetable for his return after he hit the 60-day injured list.

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And if that news weren’t already bad enough, Graterol underwent back surgery and could miss the remainder of the season. The specifics of the procedure were not clear, but the timing is brutal for a pitcher who already missed all of 2025 while recovering from shoulder surgery and has not appeared in a major-league game since the 2024 playoffs.

For the Dodgers, the frustration is bigger than one reliever.

More Than One Injury

Los Angeles has been trying to manage multiple pitching injuries at the same time. Tyler Glasnow has been dealing with lower back spasms, Edwin Díaz with loose bodies in his right elbow, Blake Snell recovering from an elbow procedure, Ben Casparius dealing with shoulder inflammation, Gavin Stone working through shoulder inflammation, Landon Knack out with an intercostal strain, and Jake Cousins recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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That is a lot of damage for one staff to absorb. Even the world champs.

The Dodgers still have enough talent to survive regular-season injuries better than most teams. But Graterol was supposed to be one of the potential late-season bullpen boosts. His power sinker, postseason experience, and leverage upside made him more than just another depth arm. Now that possibility looks far less certain. The Dodgers do not need to panic, but their pitching depth is being tested earlier and harder than expected.

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