Treinen goes on 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation, Dodgers recall McDermott to stabilize bullpen

The Dodgers’ bullpen depth took another hit on Saturday as Los Angeles placed right-hander Blake Treinen on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. The move came ahead of a game against the Orioles, and it immediately forced the team to reshape its late-inning options during a stretch where managing pitching health is becoming an increasingly urgent task.

Treinen’s placement on the IL removed a veteran right-handed arm from the Dodgers’ immediate leverage mix. While the specific medical timeline is not detailed in the transaction, an elbow-inflammation designation typically indicates a need to give the area time to settle, rather than pushing through with regular bullpen work. For a contender built to turn high-leverage innings over quickly, even short absences can ripple through sequencing and matchup planning.

To account for Treinen’s absence, the Dodgers recalled right-hander Chayce McDermott from Triple-A Oklahoma City. McDermott, who has been pitching in the minors for the organization’s Triple-A affiliate, gives Los Angeles an additional righty option who can be deployed in relief based on game state and handedness considerations.

McDermott has posted a 5.40 ERA with the Comets at the Triple-A level this season, according to the Dodgers’ official announcement. The release also notes that he pitched a scoreless inning in his lone appearance with Los Angeles earlier this season, an example of his ability to fit into a major-league bullpen role when called on.

For the Dodgers, the operational challenge is straightforward: a bullpen that loses innings can strain the rest of the relief corps, increasing workload on other middle relievers and potentially shortening the leash on setup arms. When injuries “pile up,” the team’s margin for error shrinks, and managers often have to balance effectiveness with availability for the coming days, not just the next matchup.

The immediate next step is roster stability. With Treinen on the IL and McDermott now on the active roster, Los Angeles will look to plug McDermott into whatever role the team’s bullpen needs most, whether that is a bridge inning, a situational matchup appearance, or a longer relief stint if the game plays out unusually. The Dodgers’ usage over their next outings will provide the clearest picture of how they expect McDermott to contribute while Treinen recovers.

There is also a broader durability storyline developing around the bullpen. Elbow inflammation can be a slow-developing issue, and while the Dodgers have not provided additional specifics beyond the IL designation, the fact that another reliever has been sidelined raises the stakes for how quickly replacements can perform and how cautiously the remaining arms are managed.