The Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching staff has been hit hard with injuries so far this season. And the club received another tough update regarding one of its key bullpen pieces on Thursday.
The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reported that a recent MRI showed bone chips in Dodgers reliever Will Klein’s elbow. It’s unclear what the next steps will be to address this, but arthroscopic surgery is typically the outcome when loose bodies are floating around a pitcher’s elbow.
If Klein, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort on Aug. 1, ends up needing surgery, there is a good chance it would mean his 2026 season is over.
Klein has been stable in the Dodgers’ bullpen this season, producing a 3.67 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched (36 appearances). He had been struggling before the injury, posting a 9.82 ERA in his past seven games but would still be an important piece of Dave Roberts’ relief corps moving forward if he could return.
Klein proved how valuable he can be during the Dodgers’ 2025 postseason run. He threw five scoreless innings in the World Series, including four scoreless frames during the Dodgers’ 18-inning marathon Game 3 win against the Toronto Blue Jays last October.
The Dodgers’ injury bug has been headlined by two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, whose lingering knee injury has kept him off the mound since July. A right biceps injury is also plaguing Ohtani at this point, further clouding his pitching return. There is a chance that Ohtani might not return to the mound this season, although he has remained in Los Angeles’ lineup as a designated hitter.
An update regarding whether Klein will need surgery should be announced soon.
