Kopech (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, per MLB.com.
The bullpen was Kopech's second since he had his throwing program stalled in late March. The veteran reliever has recently stated that he "feels good" as he ramps up toward a return from the right shoulder injury that has kept him from seeing any game action so far this season. Kopech will presumably need a minor-league rehab assignment before he's ready to be activated off the IL, and when he eventually rejoins the Dodgers' big-league bullpen, he could be eased back into a high-leverage role considering the amount of time he has missed.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Has throwing program stalled
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Kopech (shoulder) is "sort of in a holding pattern" with his throwing, per MLB.com.
Kopech is dealing with a right shoulder impingement and will open the campaign on the injured list. He had been throwing bullpen sessions as of early March, but given Roberts' comments, it's unclear what the righty reliever's throwing program looks like at the moment. Kopech notched six regular-season saves for Los Angeles after being acquired from the White Sox in late July last year, but he's been slated for a setup role when healthy this season with newcomer Tanner Scott expected to work as the Dodgers' primary closer.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Placed on 15-day IL
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Kopech (forearm) was moved to the 15-day injured list Monday.
Kopech has been dealing with right forearm inflammation since the offseason and it'll force him to begin the 2025 season on the injured list. He's progressed to throwing bullpen sessions, but the team has yet to provide an update on when he'll advance to facing live hitters.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Throwing bullpen session
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Kopech (forearm) is throwing a bullpen session Tuesday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The right-hander has had a delayed start to spring training due to forearm inflammation but is ramping up his throwing program. Kopech is in danger of being unavailable for the season-opening series against the Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19, with the Dodgers' domestic opener March 27 being a more realistic return target.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Throws off mound
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Kopech (forearm) threw off a mound Saturday to a standing catcher, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
While it wasn't a full-fledged bullpen session, Saturday marked the first time Kopech had done any sort of mound work since the start of spring training. The 28-year-old righty has been behind schedule since the start of camp due to inflammation in his right forearm, and there's no guarantee he'll be ready to go when the Dodgers begin their domestic schedule March 27.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Could begin season on IL
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Kopech (forearm) is behind schedule in his throwing program and admitted that the right-hander could begin the season on the injured list, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Kopech experienced right forearm inflammation over the winter, and though Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes previously said in January that the 28-year-old wasn't on track to miss time to begin the season, the organization's stance on the matter has seemingly changed as spring training has gotten underway. On a positive note, Kopech hasn't been shut down from throwing, but it's unclear when he might be cleared to face hitters and eventually make his Cactus League debut. After being acquired from the White Sox in July, Kopech pitched to a 1.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB while going 6-for-6 in save chances over 24 innings for the Dodgers to close out the regular season, then struck out 10 batters while allowing three runs over nine postseason innings. Despite his dominant showing during his time with the Dodgers last season, Kopech's uncertain health in addition to the team's deep stable of capable high-leverage relievers renders him primarily an NL-only or deep mixed-league consideration in 2025 fantasy drafts.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Throwing, 'feeling pretty good'
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Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Tuesday on the Baseball Isn't Boring Podcast that Kopech (forearm) is going through his normal offseason throwing program and "feeling pretty good."
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported earlier this month that Kopech could miss the first month of the season due to right forearm inflammation that he pitched through during the postseason. However, Gomes indicated that the reliever is in the same boat as the team's other pitchers in that he'll be monitored this spring; however, at this juncture, a late start to the season is not anticipated. Assuming he's healthy, Kopech will be used in high-leverage situations by the Dodgers.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Concern about forearm overblown
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Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes downplayed Kopech's right forearm injury Wednesday and said, "I don't think there's anything of concern at this point," Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
A report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today on Monday indicated that Kopech could miss the first month of the season due to right forearm inflammation he began experiencing during the playoffs. While Gomes conceded that Kopech was "grinding" through the postseason, the GM doesn't seem to believe it will be a long-term issue. Whether Kopech will indeed get a late start to the 2025 season is not clear. When healthy, Kopech will be part of the late-inning mix in the Dodgers' bullpen.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Dealing with forearm inflammation
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Kopech could miss the first month of the season due to right forearm inflammation, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Kopech battled a forearm issue during the playoffs, although it never got to the point where he was unavailable to pitch. There's no indication the injury has gotten worse since then, with Nightengale noting that Kopech does not have any structural damage. However, the Dodgers are opting to take things slowly with the hard-throwing reliever. Once healthy, Kopech figures to be in the mix for saves, along with Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen and perhaps others.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Could miss first month of season
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Kopech (undisclosed) is expected to possibly miss the first month of the season, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic note that Kopech dealt with a forearm issue throughout the postseason, "but it was not deemed to be anything he couldn't pitch through." It's not clear whether it's the forearm problem or something else that might force the month-long absence. More information on Kopech's situation should come to light soon.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Settles at $5.2 million
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The Dodgers and Kopech avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.2 million contract Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Kopech had been eligible for salary arbitration for the third and final time. The hard-throwing right-hander was dominant down the stretch for the Dodgers after being acquired via trade, posting a 1.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB over 24 regular-season innings. Kopech should be in the mix for saves in 2025 but will have competition.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Named starter for Game 6
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Kopech will serve as the Dodgers' opening pitcher for Game 6 of the NLCS against the Mets on Sunday, Noah Camras of DodgersNation.com reports.
Ryan Brasier served as the opener the last time the Dodgers went with a bullpen day in Game 2, but after suffering a 7-3 loss in that contest, Los Angeles will go a different route Sunday. Kopech's lone appearance in the NLCS came in Game 3 on Wednesday, when he scooped up a win while striking out one batter over one scoreless inning. He's appeared in five postseason games this season, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out six batters across 4.1 scoreless innings.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Secures 15th save
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Kopech picked up the save over the Padres on Wednesday, allowing one walk over a scoreless ninth inning while striking out one.
Kopech relieved Blake Treinen to open the ninth and retired the first two batters on five pitches before surrendering a walk to Jake Cronenworth. The right-hander was then able to strike out Donovan Solano for the final out to lock down his 15th save of the campaign and his third in the month of September. Kopech has now allowed at least one baserunner in five-consecutive appearances and at least one free pass in four of his last five. However, he's also converted each of his last seven save opportunities, with his last blown save coming back on July 7 against the Marlins.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Grabs 14th save
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Kopech allowed one run on one hit and struck out one over one inning to earn the save in Friday's 6-4 win over the Rockies.
Kopech allowed a solo home run to Michael Toglia in the ninth inning, the first long ball he's given up since July 7. The Rockies couldn't build off it though, allowing Kopech to secure his fifth save as a Dodger, all of which he's earned since Aug. 16. The right-hander is at a 3.62 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 84:33 K:BB over 64.2 innings with 14 saves between the Dodgers and the White Sox, but he's been dominant with a 1.29 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 25:9 K:BB across 21 innings since he was dealt to Los Angeles.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Picks up win
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Kopech (6-8) got the win over Atlanta on Sunday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two in a scoreless inning.
Kopech pitched the bottom of the eighth with the game tied 2-2 and kept things tied despite allowing two baserunners. The Dodgers would then go on to score seven runs in the top of the ninth to put Kopech in line for the win. The 28-year-old righty has pitched scoreless outings in seven of his last eight appearances but has also allowed at least one baserunner in five of those. For the year, Kopech sports a 3.59 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 83:32 K:BB in 62.2 innings.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Walks three in 13th save
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Kopech picked up the save over the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing one run on three walks over one inning while striking out one.
Kopech entered the contest with a three-run lead in the ninth and proceeded to walk three consecutive batters before then allowing a sacrifice fly to Isaac Paredes. Fortunately for the right-hander, Seiya Suzuki would get thrown out trying to steal third before Kopech was then able to retire the final batter by way of strikeout. It marked the first time that Kopech has walked multiple batters in an appearance since July 7 against the Marlins after not allowing a free pass through his first three appearances in September. He's now converted each of his last four save opportunities, while Wednesday marked his 13th save overall on the campaign.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Secures save Sunday
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Kopech threw a scoreless inning to earn a save against the Cardinals on Sunday.
Kopech threw seven of 12 pitches for strikes and finished the game on a double-play ball after a runner reached base on an error. He's now turned in 9.1 consecutive scoreless innings to begin his Dodgers career and earned two saves during the weekend series against St. Louis. With Daniel Hudson (8.64 ERA over his last nine appearances) and Evan Phillips (no saves since July 23) seemingly falling out of favor, the Dodgers may use Kopech in the ninth inning more often. Kopech owns a 3.91 ERA with a 72:25 K:BB through 53 innings this season.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Gets first save with new team
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Kopech struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 7-6 win over the Cardinals.
Kopech continues to excel with the Dodgers -- he's yet to give up a run over 8.1 innings with the team while posting a 13:1 K:BB in that span. Evan Phillips and Joe Kelly served as the bridge over the seventh and eighth innings before Kopech got the save opportunity, while Daniel Hudson didn't pitch after his blow-up versus the Brewers on Thursday. For the season, Kopech has 10 saves and five holds while pitching to a 3.98 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 72:25 K:BB through 52 innings between the Dodgers and the White Sox. The Dodgers' bullpen depth means it's unlikely Kopech is ever the clear-cut closer, but he should continue to get plenty of high-leverage chances.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Thriving with Los Angeles
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Kopech earned a hold against the Brewers on Monday, walking one batter and striking out two in a scoreless inning.
Kopech handled the eighth frame and worked around a two-out walk to keep Milwaukee off the scoreboard. He earned his fourth hold in six appearances since joining the Dodgers on July 29. Kopech has yet to allow a run over 6.1 innings with his new team, and he's surrendered just one hit while posting a 10:1 K:BB. The righty reliever has quickly become Los Angeles' top setup man, but it's unclear if he'll get any save opportunities after working as the White Sox's closer for most of the season prior to being dealt.
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Dodgers' Michael Kopech: Traded to Dodgers
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The Dodgers acquired Kopech, right-hander Oliver Gonzalez and utility player Tommy Edman (wrist) on Monday in the three-team trade involving the White Sox and Cardinals, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. The White Sox received infielder/outfielder Miguel Vargas, infielders Alexander Albertus (undisclosed) and Jeral Perez and a player to be named later or cash considerations, while the Cardinals acquired Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham and a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Kopech has offered a mixed bag in a full-time move to relief in 2024, striking out 59 across 43.2 innings but also walking 24 and posting a 4.74 ERA. The Dodgers will hope to fix his control and home-run issues, and if they can, he has the potential to be a dominant late-inning weapon. Kopech is also under team control for 2025. John Brebbia should be the favorite for saves in the White Sox's bullpen for now, though he could also be traded ahead of Tuesday's deadline.
