This article was generated by artificial intelligence and is automatically updated as news breaks. All credit belongs to the original reporters and their publications.

The Dodgers are inching closer to reinforcements on a pitching staff that has been stretched thin all season. Brock Stewart is nearing a return from the injured list, joining Evan Phillips as arms who could rejoin the big league club soon, per Dodger Blue’s staff report. The update comes as the team also monitors the status of Blake Snell and Teoscar Hernández, both of whom remain sidelined. In total, eleven players currently sit on the injured list — a staggering number even by modern standards.

Stewart’s return would be a welcome addition to a bullpen that has been patching things together for weeks. The right-hander has had a winding career — he was originally drafted by the Dodgers back in 2014, spent time with multiple organizations, and made his way back to Los Angeles. When healthy, Stewart gives the staff a reliable arm with swing-and-miss stuff out of the pen. Getting him back now, heading into the heart of summer, matters. Bullpen depth isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity when you’re trying to hold a division lead.

Snell’s absence has been one of the more frustrating storylines of the first half. The left-hander signed with the Dodgers to be a front-line starter — a former Cy Young winner capable of dominating entire lineups. But injuries have kept him from establishing any rhythm this season. Any timeline update on Snell is significant because the Dodgers’ rotation plans for July and August depend heavily on when (and how effectively) he can return to the mound.

Hernández’s injury has left a noticeable gap in the lineup. He was one of the Dodgers’ most productive right-handed bats last season, providing the kind of power and run production from the outfield corners that is difficult to replace internally. His return would immediately upgrade our lineup depth and give manager Dave Roberts more flexibility with platoon matchups and rest days for other regulars.

The article also noted that Tommy Edman returned to the roster this week, which is a positive step. Edman’s versatility — he can play multiple infield and outfield positions — gives Roberts options that have been in short supply. Beyond those names, Ben Casparius, Edwin Díaz, Tyler Glasnow, Brusdar Graterol, Kiké Hernández, Will Smith, and Gavin Stone all remain on the injured list as well.

I’ll be blunt: this is a roster that has been competing with one hand tied behind its back for most of the season. The fact that we’re still in strong position despite eleven players on the IL says something about the organizational depth and the front office’s ability to find stopgap solutions. But stopgaps only take you so far. Stewart and Phillips getting back soon would shore up the bullpen immediately. Getting Snell and Hernández back healthy after that could turn a good team into a dominant one. The next few weeks of rehab timelines are going to shape how aggressive Andrew Friedman needs to be at the trade deadline — and that calculus changes significantly depending on how many of these guys actually make it back.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: June 20, 2026 8:28 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers