Los Angeles Dodgers Injury Updates: Kershaw and Ethier Join Quakes

The injury bug has bitten the Los Angeles Dodgers this season as the team has tied an MLB record in 2016 with 27 different players on the disabled list. In total, players have missed a league-high 1,798 total days of playing time, 200 days more than the closest team, the Oakland Athletics.

After placing starting pitchers Brett Anderson and Scott Kazmir on the disabled list last week, the Dodgers have surprisingly stayed healthy since last weekend and reinforcements are on the way.

Kazmir, Anderson, Clayton Kershaw, Andre Ethier, Brandon McCarthy, Alex Wood, and more are all set to return soon as the Dodgers look to stave off the San Francisco Giants in the National League West.

Only Scott Van Slyke has been lost for the season in the past week with surgery on his wrist. 

Here's the latest injury updates:

Clayton Kershaw (herniated disc): The three-time Cy Young Award is close to returning to the team. Kershaw threw a 35-pitch, two-inning, simulated game on Tuesday and felt good enough afterward that he's scheduled to make a rehab start on Saturday for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. He's expected to make 60-pitches in the game and if all goes well, he could be activated off the disabled list next weekend when the Dodgers reunite with Don Mattingly in Miami.

Trayce Thompson (Lower back injury): Thompson is set to meet with team doctors to see how healed the two stress fractures in his back are on Monday or Tuesday. He is not eligible to come off the DL until Sept. 9 and will definitely need some sort of rehab assignment after not playing since July, 10. The minor league regular season ends on Sept. 5 so Thompson could join an affiliate if they make the playoffs or play in Arizona.

Andre Ethier (fractured right tibia): Ethier went 1-for-4 with the Quakes on Thursday night in his sixth rehab appearance. It was Ethier's third straight game and he will happy to see a familiar in Clayton Kershaw this weekend. As far as when Ethier returns, Roberts is leaving it up to him. "I'm going to trust his major-league service and how he knows his swing. When he's ready then he will let me know and we will act accordingly."

Louis Coleman (right shoulder fatigue): Coleman was activated and joined the Major League roster on Friday, Sept. 2^nd.

Alex Wood (left posterior elbow soreness): Wood threw a bullpen session on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium and continues to say he "feels good." He is expected to return in mid-September in a relief role.

Chris Hatcher (strained left oblique): Hatcher was moved to the 60-day disabled list on July 20^th and is not expected to pitch again this season.

Hyun-Jin Ryu (left elbow tendinitis): Ryu was on the field at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday and played catch. It's encouraging that he wants to try and return, but we won't hold our breath just yet.

Scott Van Slyke (Right Wrist irritation): Van Slyke finally underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist, effectively ending his season.

Josh Ravin (Right Triceps Soreness): Ravin was activated and joined the Major League roster on Friday, Sept. 2^nd.

Brandon McCarthy (Right hip stiffness): McCarthy threw five innings of the simulated game on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium facing Class-A hitters. He said he "felt good," and was able to focus on things he wanted to improve. He said "I'm just trying to get comfortable again more than anything else." We expect McCarthy to throw a simulated game in Arizona before coming off the disabled list. 

Brett Anderson (blister): Anderson threw four innings in the star-studded simulated game Tuesday at Dodger Stadium and said he did not have to worry about the blister. He said he was "90-95 percent back," and is expected to take the mound after Kershaw on Saturday in Rancho Cucamonga.

Scott Kazmir (neck irritation): Kazmir anchored the simulated game at Dodger Stadium throwing five innings and was in good spirits afterward. He said he still needs to work on his body and fastball command, but was happy with the movement on his off-speed pitches. He admitted his range of motion that placed him on the DL was still not where he wanted it to be, but he expects to start when he is eligible to be activated off the DL on Sept. 8.