The Dodgers Suffer Another Setback

The Dodgers’ challenging week has taken a turn for the worse.

During a six-game slump, the team has placed Michael Kopech on the 60-day injured list following surgery to fix a torn meniscus in his right knee, as reported recently by an outlet.

Reports suggest that Kopech could still return before the season ends.

The 29-year-old had pitched just seven innings in eight appearances before he was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 1 due to inflammation in his right knee, which was backdated to June 28.

To make room for Kopech on the roster, the Dodgers activated Tyler Glasnow, who returned from the 60-day IL, even as they faced a 3-2 defeat against the Brewers.

In opening up a spot for Glasnow in the active roster, the team decided to send right-handed pitcher Alexis Díaz back to the minors.

Kopech, originally from Longview, Texas, impressed the Dodgers last season after being traded midyear from the White Sox. He recorded a stellar 1.13 ERA over 24 regular-season innings with Los Angeles and pitched nine innings during the postseason when the team made a push for the World Series title.

Previously, Kopech was a first-round draft pick by the Red Sox in 2014, later traded to the White Sox in the deal that sent Chris Sale to Boston. He spent his initial four and a half years in the major leagues with the White Sox before joining the Dodgers.

Even with the roster challenges, the Dodgers hold the best record in the National League and the second-best in baseball, sitting at 56-38. They have a five-game cushion over the second-place Giants in the NL West as they head into a crucial three-game series in San Francisco this weekend.