Dodgers’ Tony Cingrani will undergo arthroscopic surgery, likely ending his season

LOS ANGELES – Dodgers pitcher Tony Cingrani will have arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder Wednesday in Los Angeles. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and likely end Cingrani’s season.

Cingrani’s season never really began.

The left-hander threw four scoreless innings in spring training before pain in his shoulder rendered him unable to pitch. He began the season on the injured list and made enough progress to make eight minor league rehabilitation appearances in May: one with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and seven with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

But after throwing a scoreless inning May 24 in New Orleans, Cingrani’s rehabilitation assignment was shut down. His shoulder pain persisted. After consulting with ElAttrache, the decision was made to have surgery.

“He and the doctors decided that was the best course of action for the short term and the long term,” Roberts said. “When you’re having surgery this time of year, it’s probably the end of his season. I expect a full recovery.”

Cingrani, 29, was expected to be a key part of a bullpen that has struggled at times in 2019. He has limited left-handed hitters to a .215 batting average. 302 on-base percentage, and .391 slugging percentage in his seven-year career. This season, left-handed hitters are batting .239, with a .300 OBP and .403 slugging percentage against the Dodgers’ lefty relievers (Scott Alexander, Julio Urias and Caleb Ferguson).

The Dodgers re-signed Cingrani for $2.65 million last November, avoiding arbitration. He is eligible for free agency at the end of the season.

INJURY UPDATES

Catcher Austin Barnes will play minor-league rehabilitation games Tuesday and Wednesday with advanced Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, Roberts said.

Barnes, on the 10-day injured list with a strained left groin, will be activated Friday and catch Clayton Kershaw when the Dodgers visit the San Francisco Giants.

Roberts reiterated that the Dodgers aren’t planning to carry three catchers on their active roster, despite the emergence of rookie Will Smith. Smith’s first major league RBI, a solo home run against the Phillies, gave the Dodgers a win in their final at-bat Saturday.

Besides giving Smith the advantage of regular at-bats, Roberts said that sending Smith to Triple-A Oklahoma City reflects the Dodgers’ upcoming matchups.

“We’re going to see a lot more right-handed arms,” Roberts said, “so to have (left-handed hitter Matt) Beaty, whether it’s to start or off the bench.”

Justin Turner fielded ground balls at third base Sunday morning as Roberts and Dodgers head athletic trainer Neal Rampe looked on. Turner hasn’t played an inning in the field since he strained a hamstring in the ninth inning of last Wednesday’s game against the Mets. His walk as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning Sunday was his first plate appearance since the injury.

Roberts said Turner will start at third base Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. A left-handed pitcher, Robbie Ray, is scheduled to start for the Diamondbacks. Turner is batting .176 with no home runs in 41 career plate appearances against Ray.

ALSO

The Diamondbacks will start a pair of right-handers, Taylor Clarke and Jon Duplantier, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The Dodgers will counter with Walker Buehler (Monday), Hyun-Jin Ryu (Tuesday) and Kenta Maeda (Wednesday) in that order.

UP NEXT

Dodgers (RHP Walker Buehler) at Diamondbacks (LHP Robbie Ray), 6:40 p.m., SportsNet LA (where available), 570-AM

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