Edgardo Henriquez’s Regular Season Ends With Back Injury

Edgardo Henriquez’s regular season is officially over after the Dodgers placed the right-handed reliever on the 15-day injured list with lower-back discomfort.

The timing of the move prevents Henriquez from returning before the regular season ends. However, the Dodgers have not ruled out the possibility of getting him back during the postseason.

Manager Dave Roberts said Henriquez will undergo imaging on his back and side, giving the team a clearer understanding of the injury and whether he can remain an option in October.

For now, the Dodgers are losing one of their most productive and heavily used relievers at a critical point in the season.

Henriquez Emerged as One of Dodgers’ Best Relievers

Henriquez finishes the regular season with a 2.85 ERA, 71 strikeouts and 25 walks across 60 innings.

He made 61 appearances, including one start.

The 24-year-old also recorded a 2.47 expected ERA and allowed only one home run all season. He led the Dodgers’ bullpen in innings pitched and expected ERA while finishing second among the club’s relievers in strikeouts.

Those numbers represent an important step forward for a pitcher whose high-velocity fastball has never been in question.

Henriquez can reach 103 or 104 mph, but his improved command and confidence allowed him to become more than a pitcher relying exclusively on velocity. He developed into a dependable bullpen option during a season in which the Dodgers repeatedly dealt with injuries and inconsistency from their relief staff.

Injury Follows Rare Difficult Appearance

Henriquez last pitched Sunday against the Miami Marlins.

He allowed three hits, one walk and two runs while recording two outs during the eighth inning of the Dodgers’ 6-4 loss.

It was a rare difficult appearance during an otherwise dominant stretch.

Those were the first runs Henriquez had allowed since Aug. 16, ending a streak of 11 consecutive scoreless appearances.

The Dodgers placed him on the injured list the following day.

There has been no indication that the organization believes the poor outing was anything more than an isolated performance. The more significant concern is whether his back and side will recover quickly enough for him to resume throwing before postseason rosters are finalized.

Postseason Return Has Not Been Ruled Out

Henriquez being finished for the regular season does not mean his entire year is over.

Because the Dodgers placed him on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 14, he cannot return before the regular-season schedule concludes. That timetable does not automatically prevent him from pitching in October.

Roberts said the Dodgers still hope Henriquez can remain a postseason option, but that will depend on the imaging results and how quickly his symptoms improve.

Los Angeles will need to determine whether Henriquez can resume throwing, rebuild his readiness and prove he can pitch effectively without aggravating the injury.

That makes his postseason availability a possibility—not a certainty.

The Dodgers also could make different roster decisions from one playoff round to the next. Even if Henriquez is unavailable when the postseason begins, he could potentially return in a later round if the team advances and his recovery progresses.

Bobby Miller Recalled From Triple-A

The Dodgers recalled Bobby Miller from Triple-A Oklahoma City as the corresponding roster move.

Miller had been optioned on Sept. 7, but MLB rules allow an optioned player to return before completing the usual minimum stay in the minors when he replaces someone placed on the injured list.

The 27-year-old has made one Major League appearance this season. He pitched three innings of one-run relief against the Washington Nationals on Sept. 6, earning the victory while striking out two.

Miller made one appearance for Oklahoma City after being optioned, allowing five runs over 1⅔ innings against Sugar Land.

His immediate role has not been announced, but his ability to cover multiple innings gives Roberts another option while the Dodgers manage their pitching staff through the final stretch.

Dodgers Lose an Important Bullpen Arm

Henriquez’s injury comes as Los Angeles continues evaluating which relievers can be trusted in October.

His production, durability and ability to generate strikeouts had positioned him as a legitimate postseason bullpen candidate. Losing him for the remainder of the regular season removes an opportunity to test him in additional high-leverage situations before playoff rosters are set.

The Dodgers will now wait for the imaging results before determining whether Henriquez can still be part of those plans.

His regular season is finished.

Whether his postseason is over remains an unanswered question.