Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen will hear from doctors Tuesday as to whether his heart condition will keep him from playing the rest of the season, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
Jansen was hospitalized last week for an irregular heartbeat just over a year after a heart injury kept him out from July 26 to Aug. 26 of 2011. The question is whether or not Jansen will need to remain on blood thinning medication. If he has to remain medicated, a typically benign injury could cause severe bleeding, necessitating keeping him off the field.
Jansen has been excellent for the Dodgers since taking over the closer role in late April. He owns a 2.54 ERA and a tremendous 13.66 K/9 (just one year after setting the MLB K/9 record at 16.10) to go with his 25 saves. The Dodgers own the seventh-best relief ERA in baseball at 3.06 but lack a clear shutdown reliever beyond Jansen. Recently-activated Matt Guerrier and last year's closer Javy Guerra may be the go-to guys should Jansen be shut down -- a significant downgrade either way.
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