The Los Angeles Dodgers came up short in the World Series last year, but have a strong team entering 2018. Los Angeles has missed out on a few players this offseason, but are still confident they can win the National League again. The MLB season is a long one and teams need to stay healthy to succeed. Right now, the Dodgers are far from healthy, but it isn't due to injuries, rather a teamwide illness. With some key players out, Los Angeles will have to rely on some prospects to handle the workload for now. Here are the latest Dodgers news and rumors you need to know:
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Dodgers Dealing With Flu Outbreak
A flu-like virus causing fatigue and chills is spreading through the Dodgers clubhouse. The number of total players impacted by the virus is around 24-25 according to Los Angeles Times. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is 45 years old and can't remember something like this.
"The team sent the ill home," Roberts said. "The medical staff hoped the symptoms would subside in one to three days. I haven't seen anything like this,"
The illness is causing Roberts to make changes to his lineup on Wednesday and will impact the lineup again today. Starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu was unable to start Wednesday and was replaced by Wilmer Font. The list of position players impacted by the illness was quite the list: Yasiel Puig, Cody Bellinger, Austin Barnes, Logan Forsythe, Enrique Hernandez, Trayce Thompson, and Kyle Farmer were all listed on the initial travel roster, but weren't included in the lineup.
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Manny Bañuelos Starting Thursday
The illness will impact Thursday's starting pitcher against the Cleveland Indians as Ross Stripling was scratched from his start today. Now lefty pitcher Manny Bañuelos will start in Stripling's place. According to Baseball America, he is the #29 ranked prospect pre-2012.
Bañuelos has spent most of his major league career in the minors, but had a short stint in 2014 with the Braves where he pitched in the majors. He started seven games for the Braves holding a 5.13 ERA and a 1-4 record.
Los Angeles signed Bañuelos to a minor league contract this winter, so maybe the 26-year-old can get back to his dominance before undergoing Tommy John Surgery in 2013.
Andrew Toles Working His Way Back
Outfielder Andrew Toles is working his way back from a torn ACL that forced him to miss the last five months of the 2017 season. He looks to be healing quite well since he blasted a home run in yesterday's 10-5 loss to the Padres at Peoria Sports Complex.
The Dodgers plan on taking it slow with him with him, evaluating how his knee responds to practice, and games. “We’re going to be a little bit more conservative on the front end,” Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said. “It’s much more of a feel thing as we go through February and March.”
So far thumbs up for Toles who hasn't suffered any setbacks and looks to be on track thus far. Last season the 25-year-old batted .271 with five home runs, and 15 RBIs in 31 games. He will compete for playing time in a crowded Dodgers outfield.
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