LOS ANGELES — Michael Kopech’s very frustrating season is probably over.
Kopech was placed on the injured list on Friday officially with right knee inflammation. But he said only, “I’m battling with a couple different things right now. I’ll just leave it at that.”
Kopech finished last October with forearm soreness that carried over into spring training and led to some shoulder soreness. He didn’t make his season debut until June. After only eight appearances, he went back on the IL and had surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee.
He returned from that this month but struggled mightily with his command. He came into Thursday’s game in the seventh inning and walked two of the three batters he faced, throwing just eight strikes in 18 pitches. In six appearances after returning from the knee surgery, he faced 24 batters, walked nine of them and threw two wild pitches.
“We’re in the middle of trying to lock down this division title and put ourselves in a good spot going into the postseason,” Kopech said at his locker before Friday’s game. “It’s obviously something I want to be a part of. It’s a special group. I care for these guys. I want to win games with them and when I realize I’m making it harder on us to win games it’s not a fun thing to accept. So yeah, it’s really frustrating.”
Kopech will likely go to the Dodgers’ training complex in Arizona as the Dodgers head to the postseason. Manager Dave Roberts said Kopech will try to “reset” and “stay alive for, potentially, the postseason” if the Dodgers go deep enough.
“It’s just kind of been one of those things that if it’s not one thing, it’s something else,” Roberts said. “But again, it’s pitchable. But just to the standard that we expect from him, and he expects from himself – that’s just not where it’s at right now. Where we’re at on the calendar, we had to make a decision. A tough one.”
The knee issue is primarily responsible for Kopech’s difficulties pitching effectively, but he wouldn’t blame it on any one thing.
“I’m working through some stuff. Put it like that. Just as everybody is at this point in the year,” he said. “Sometimes it can be easier to navigate than others. But part of the game is being able to work through those difficult times.
“I think there’s been various things this year. I really haven’t been able to have a consistent workload this year with the IL stints that I have had. Getting in a rhythm isn’t exactly the easiest thing to do right now. There’s probably various reasons for that.”
The Dodgers promoted right-hander Will Klein to take Kopech’s roster spot. Klein had a 3.38 ERA over 10 appearances with the Dodgers earlier this season and
RELIEF WORK
Brock Stewart was hoping to make two rehab appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City and then rejoin the Dodgers this weekend. After a rough outing Thursday, though, Stewart will pitch again for OKC on Sunday.
An error led to four unearned runs being charged to Stewart, who faced six batters in his inning Thursday. He allowed one hit, walked one batter, hit another and struck out two.
Roki Sasaki also pitched in relief Thursday, the first time he has ever come out of the bullpen as a professional. He maintained the increased velocity he showed in his previous start, averaging 98.9 mph on his fastball and touching 100 mph. Sasaki will make another appearance out of the bullpen on Sunday.
KERSHAW DAYS
Future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw announced Thursday that he will be retiring after this season. That made Friday night his final regular season start at Dodger Stadium – and potentially his last start there, depending on how the Dodgers do in the postseason.
The Dodgers will lean into honoring the three-time Cy Young Award winner this weekend.
Saturday’s game will feature a 3,000-strikeout bobblehead as a promotional giveaway. Sunday – the final home game of the regular season – is Fan Appreciation Day. As part of that, the future Hall of Famer is expected to address the crowd.
ALSO
Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas was named the 2025 winner of the Roy Campanella Award. The award is voted on by Dodger players and coaches and recognizes the player who exemplifies the spirit and leadership of Campanella.
UP NEXT
Giants (TBA) at Dodgers (RHP Tyler Glasnow, 3-3, 3.06 ERA), Saturday, 6:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM
