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Dodgers Closer Kenley Jansen Could Miss Upcoming Series in Colorado

The Los Angeles Dodgers could be without their closer, Kenley Jansen, during a pivotal three-game series with the Colorado Rockies this weekend.

The Los Angeles Dodgers could be without their closer this weekend.

After a three-game series with the New York Mets in Los Angeles this week, the Dodgers will travel to Colorado for a three-game weekend series with the Rockies.

For precautionary reasons, the team's closer, Kenley Jansen, might not make the trip to the mile-high city.

Jansen told Ken Gurnick of MLB.com on Monday that the decision on whether or not to send Jansen for the pivotal series in Colorado is "being debated," after Jansen showed signs of an irregular heartbeat in Denver less than a month ago.

Jansen was rushed to the hospital for testing before that series with the Rockies, and ultimately was flown back to Los Angeles where he saw a cardiologist and was placed on blood thinners.

Jansen was moved to the disabled list and missed about two weeks. During that time, the Dodgers bullpen surrendered leads or ties in seven consecutive games without their anchor.

After learning from that experience, the team is now more equipped to deal with Jansen's absence after placing starting pitcher Kenta Maeda in the pen, trading for former closer Ryan Madson, as well as activating relievers Josh Fields and Zac Rosscup from the disabled list.

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However, not having your All-Star closer when you go head-to-head with one of the team's fighting you for first place in the division could be damaging, but if the irregular heartbeat returns, losing Jansen for even longer could be debilitating.

"With Kenley and altitude and going to Denver, it's certainly going to be a conversation we're going to revisit during this series," said Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts on Monday. "The No. 1 priority that we're all aligned with on is that Kenley's health is first and foremost the priority. If there's any hesitation on his part or the doctors say the altitude can affect him in any way, then for us, it's a no-brainer to have him stay back. So we haven't made a decision yet. We'll have those conversations and make that decision in the next couple of days."

If it were up to Jansen, he would travel with the team to Colorado and be the closer. He told Gurnick he doesn't fear for his health if he returns to Denver, but is worried about what it would do to the team if he suffered another irregular heartbeat and had to go back on the disabled list during a pennant race.

After struggling in his first four appearances off the disabled list, Jansen is finally back to his old form, after recording two saves and a win in the Dodgers series victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks that helped them recapture sole possession of first place in the NL West.

Because of Jansen's atrial fibrillation that is expected to lead to a second offseason ablation surgery, it's likely Jansen will stay in Los Angeles this weekend and meet the team in Cincinnati, for the following series with the Reds.

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