Dodgers Key Pitcher Won't Be Ready for Opening Day Due to Injury

Gabe Smallson | Feb 23, 2025

Oct 11, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips (59) is relieved in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres during game five of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had almost nothing but good news this offseason.

Hearing about the next Cy Young award winner signing, or the next international phenom picking the Dodgers over the rest of the league, or that a core piece from last season is returning are just a few of the great nuggets fans have been fortunate enough to hear since hoisting the franchise's eighth World Series championship.

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Despite all the roster movement and improvement this offseason, the baseball world is once again reminded about something that has hampered the Dodgers for all of the 2024 campaign: pitching injuries.

As spring training is in full force at Camelback Ranch, it has come with many updates on the health of the Dodgers' best arms.

Unfortunately, for one of L.A.'s best bullpen arms, he remains doubtful that he will be ready by Opening Day.

Although not too far behind schedule, Evan Phillips doesn't seem too keen on being ready for Japan.

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#Dodgers Evan Phillips will throw his first bullpen session of spring today. Understands “Opening Day is off the table” for him. But has progressed well in recovery from subscap tear and is not far behind schedule now

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 21, 2025

Phillips told the media at spring training after completing his first bullpen session of the season that "Opening Day is off the table" but he isn't too far off from his original recovery timeline.

Phillips was one of the brightest Dodgers in the bullpen last year. Without a clear-cut closer, he assumed the role when it fell to him as he finished the season leading the Dodgerrs in saves with 18.

Despite watching many others on the pitching roster fall to injury as the 2024 season soldiered on, Phillips was a formidable presence to hitters up until the NLCS, when he too unfortunately caught the injury bug.

In the regular season, Phillips made 61 appearances with an ERA of 3.62 over his 54.2 innings. Along with his saves, he added 63 strikeouts to only 17 walks.

His October play was as dazzling as the regular season in the NLDS and NLCS before it was cut short. He pitched 6.2 postseason innings over five appearances with six strikeouts, three walks, and no runs allowed.

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For more Dodgers news, head over to Dodgers on SI.