Dodgers Face Braves Without Injured Star Edman \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their series against the Atlanta Braves without second baseman Tommy Edman, who is recovering from an ankle injury. Edman joins a growing list of injured players, including multiple starting pitchers and key relievers. Manager Dave Roberts says Edman’s condition remains day to day.
Quick Looks
- Tommy Edman missed Friday’s game with a right ankle injury.
- Edman is second on the team in home runs and RBIs.
- Manager Dave Roberts said he may be available to pinch hit.
- Edman’s IL status will be evaluated based on Friday’s progress.
- Miguel Sosa filled in at second base against the Braves.
- Dodgers already have Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Clayton Kershaw on the IL.
- Blake Treinen and Michael Kopech also remain sidelined.
- Kopech is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment next week.
Deep Look
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2025 campaign is being shaped not just by performance on the field, but by the persistent shadow of injuries to key players—especially to the pitching staff and now, crucially, to offensive contributor Tommy Edman. As they opened a high-stakes road series against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night, Edman was notably absent from the starting lineup, adding to a growing list of concerns for manager Dave Roberts.
Edman injured his right ankle during a dominant 15–2 win over the Miami Marlins earlier in the week. Despite missing Wednesday’s follow-up game and using Thursday’s team off-day for additional rest, Edman was still not deemed fit to start Friday night in Atlanta. Roberts hinted at a potential turning point, noting that Edman took part in a pre-game workout that could determine whether he might be used off the bench.
“My expectation is he would be available to pinch hit,” Roberts told reporters before the game. However, he stopped short of offering certainty and acknowledged that Edman’s availability is evaluated “day to day.” When asked if a trip to the injured list (IL) was on the table, Roberts said, “Today could be telling,” signaling that the team is prepared to reassess depending on how his ankle responds.
The absence is significant. Edman has been one of the Dodgers’ more consistent offensive players so far this season. His eight home runs and 24 RBIs rank second on the team, and his blend of power, speed, and versatility has made him invaluable both at the plate and defensively at second base. In his place, Miguel Sosa was tapped to start Friday, a utility player known for his defensive reliability but limited offensive production.
While Edman’s status remains in flux, the Dodgers continue to grapple with a much deeper problem—a decimated pitching staff. The rotation is missing three frontline starters: Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Clayton Kershaw.
Snell, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, is currently sidelined with shoulder inflammation but is traveling with the team and may begin a throwing program as early as next week when the Dodgers continue their road trip in Miami. The left-hander has yet to make a significant impact in his first season in Los Angeles due to the injury but remains a vital piece of the team’s long-term rotation strategy.
Tyler Glasnow, also dealing with shoulder issues, and veteran ace Clayton Kershaw, who is recovering from toe and knee surgery, round out a trio of missing pitchers who would normally headline one of baseball’s most formidable rotations. Kershaw, a franchise icon and three-time Cy Young winner, is reportedly making steady progress but is not expected to return until later in the season.
The bullpen is also suffering from major absences. Blake Treinen, a key high-leverage reliever, remains out with forearm tightness, while flame-throwing righty Michael Kopech is sidelined due to a shoulder impingement. However, Kopech appears to be nearing a return; Roberts confirmed he is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment next week, a promising sign that reinforcements may be on the way.
The accumulation of injuries has severely tested the Dodgers’ organizational depth and prompted concerns about how sustainable their early-season momentum is. With May now underway, the club enters a crucial stretch of 10 straight road games, and the pressure to adapt, rotate bench players, and maximize limited pitching options is intensifying.
Offensively, the Dodgers remain potent. Sluggers like Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Shohei Ohtani (who joined in the offseason) continue to provide firepower, but the loss of Edman, even temporarily, narrows the margin for error. His absence removes a key piece of the Dodgers’ middle infield and lineup depth—an area that becomes even more exposed when paired with mounting pitching attrition.
Meanwhile, the front office must carefully consider how aggressively to manage the injury list, particularly with players like Edman who are on the cusp—close enough to return but still vulnerable to aggravation. The challenge lies in balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term durability, especially as the Dodgers eye another deep postseason run.
The coming weeks will be crucial. How soon Snell, Kopech, and Edman return—and in what condition—may shape the trajectory of the Dodgers’ 2025 season. Until then, the team must lean on its reserves and the strategic leadership of Dave Roberts to weather the storm and stay competitive in a deep and fast-moving National League.
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