Hyun-Jin Ryu is hoping to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation in time for the team's Game 3 National League Division Series matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday after throwing a simulated game on Wednesday.
Ryu has been sidelined since Sept. 21 when he departed his start against the Giants in San Francisco at AT&T Park and left the game after the first inning with a sore shoulder. Ryu also dealt with the injury in May, but this time he had a cortisone shot to ramp up his recovery time with the playoffs looming.
According to ESPN, Ryu threw a 45-pitch three-inning simulated game Wednesday without incident and he threw against Dodgers hitters that included Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford and Dee Gordon. Ryu had said on Tuesday that he expects to make his next scheduled start.
"Ryu was at his normal velocity and used all his pitches with no problems before, during or after with his shoulder," the team's statement read, according to ESPN Los Angeles. "He will be re-examined [Thursday] to determine how the shoulder responded."
Los Angeles routinely is secretive about its probable starters, and it hasn't released its playoff rotation yet, likely as a way to conceal the availability of Ryu. It appears likely that Clayton Kershaw and Zach Greinke will get the first two games while Ryu, if healthy, will pitch Game 3.
The Cardinals revealed that Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, John Lackey and Shelby Miller will comprise their rotation for the upcoming series, which kicks off with Game 1 Friday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Ryu, 27, went 14-7 in his sophomore season with a 3.38 ERA and 139 strikeouts.
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