LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers are battling for another division title and Brandon McCarthy isn't where he's supposed to be -- right in the thick of it, starting every fifth day.
He's slowly coming back from undergoing Tommy John surgery this past May 1 on his right elbow, seven weeks away from even tossing a baseball. At that point the Dodgers could be in the midst of the playoffs.
Considering the 12- to 18-month recovery time from that surgery, in a best-case scenario, McCarthy won't be back until next May, more likely after the 2016 All-Star Game in San Diego.