The Dodgers called up left-handed relief pitcher Scott Elbert from Triple A Albuquerque before Wednesday's game in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. To make room for Elbert, the club placed reliever Hong-Chih Kuo on the disabled list. However, the reason for the DL stint was not yet revealed.
Postgame DodgerTalk announcer Joe Block reported that manager Don Mattingly said the Dodgers were waiting for MLB approval on "the correct verbiage" for Kuo's malady. Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reported that the issue was psychological, and related to the yips that Kuo experienced in 2009 and earlier this season. During a game in 2009, Kuo threw two warmup pitches from the bullpen onto the field and later was placed on the DL and missed three months.
As for this injury, the timetable is unknown, but a pair of tweet from Hernandez suggested a long-term injury:
Are you expecting Kuo to return this year? Mattingly: "it's hard for me to answer that."
Do you think Kuo will ever pitch again? Mattingly: "Yeah, I do."
Kuo was placed on the DL earlier this season with what was called a left lower back strain, though that sore back led to a relapse of the yips. Kuo, who set a Dodgers' franchise record last year with a 1.20 ERA, has struggled with command this season, allowing seven runs and 12 baserunners in 4 2/3 innings. Kuo allowed doubles to the two batters he faced on Monday night in Pittsburgh. Kuo's trip to the DL is the 12th by the Dodgers this season, by 10 different players.
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