Despite having a few high-leverage bullpen arms like Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, and Brusdar Graterol start the season on the Injured List, the Los Angeles Dodgers have started the 2025 MLB season 4-0, and look as dominating as ever.<\/p>\n
The team has faced many setbacks throughout the offseason, such as illnesses, injuries, and family matters.<\/p>\n
Kopech is trying to get through those setbacks in hopes of returning to the mound and dominating like he did in 2024.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After being acquired by the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline, Kopech had a breakthrough with Los Angeles and transitioned smoothly, pitching to a 1.13 ERA in 24 innings over 24 games and recording six saves.<\/p>\n
Kopech was dealing with a shoulder and forearm injury heading into spring training and then could not continue rehab for a week or so, dealing with a nasty stomach virus, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.<\/p>\n
Michael Kopech said that after his forearm felt good early in camp, he ramped up a little quicker than his shoulder was ready for.<\/p>\n
That’s all good now, he says – “I feel better than I did last year,” he said.<\/p>\n
He also dealt with a stomach bug that shut him down a bit this month. \u2014 Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 27, 2025<\/p>\n
Although he did not pitch during spring training or travel with the team for the 2025 Tokyo Series, Kopech was a vital part of the Dodgers’ dominant bullpen during the 2024 playoffs, pitching 3 1\/3 scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres in the NLDS.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old flamethrower was a fantastic pickup for Los Angeles, and all the Dodgers’ faithful hope is that he can return sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n
Even with Evan Phillips and Kopech out, the Dodgers’ bullpen is still loaded with All-Stars like Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, but has also received significant contributions from Alex Vesia and Ben Casparius.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite having a few high-leverage bullpen arms like Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, and Brusdar Graterol start the season on the Injured List, the Los Angeles Dodgers have… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":48880,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n