LOS ANGELES, California — The Los Angeles Dodgers not only suffered a disappointing loss against the St. Louis Cardinals but also faced a major personnel setback in their pursuit of defending the World Series championship.
After the 6-8 loss in 10 innings at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles team confirmed that one of the key figures in their bullpen will be unable to return for the remainder of the regular season.
This is a major blow to the Dodgers’ postseason plans, as the team needs stability from every position before entering October.
The player being discussed is Will Klein, who previously became a hero during the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series championship run.
The Dodgers have activated RHP Blake Treinen from the injured list and placed LHP Eric Lauer on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers added RHP Will Klein to the 60-day injured list.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 3, 2026
In Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, the right-handed pitcher created a memorable moment by throwing 5 scoreless innings, helping the Dodgers secure an important victory.
That performance earned him the trust of the coaching staff and made him a regular part of the bullpen plans during the 2026 season.
In his first 30 appearances of the season, the 25-year-old reliever showed impressive form with a 2.29 ERA and a 2.78 FIP across 35.1 innings.
However, everything changed recently when he went through a difficult stretch of six games, causing his numbers to begin declining.
After that, the Dodgers’ medical staff discovered an issue involving his right elbow, including the presence of bone fragments that required recovery time.
The team decided to place Klein on the 60-day injured list, meaning he will miss the remainder of the regular season.
The decision was made during the series against the Cardinals, as the Dodgers needed to create space on the 40-man roster to activate Blake Treinen.
Manager Dave Roberts admitted that this was a difficult loss for the team, especially during the most important period of the season.
“This is a significant loss for us. We have already been dealing with the situation involving Shohei Ohtani, and now we are losing another important player like him. He is not just another arm in the bullpen, he is someone who has proven himself in the biggest moments. We will have to find a way to overcome this challenge.”
Klein’s absence makes the Dodgers’ bullpen situation even more complicated as Edwin Díaz continues recovering from a neck injury.
Díaz has not played since August 18, while Tanner Scott has been forced to take on more responsibility in late-game situations.
The return of Blake Treinen therefore becomes extremely important, as the Dodgers hope he can bring experience and stability during crucial innings.
Treinen was previously one of Los Angeles’ most reliable relievers before missing an extended period because of a right elbow injury.
Despite losing an important contributor, the Dodgers still have several quality options as they prepare for the postseason.
However, with the ambition of defending their World Series title, any weakness in the bullpen could become a major problem.
After the loss to the Cardinals and the injury to the player who created a historic World Series moment, the Dodgers understand that the road ahead will not be easy.
The team must now hope that the remaining core players can maintain their form and help Los Angeles overcome the most difficult stretch of the season.
