The Los Angeles Dodgers are confronting another challenging call involving a pitcher’s elbow after recent tests showed bone chips in the right arm of reliever Will Klein, according to a report.
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported Thursday that the club is considering its options for the 26-year-old. Those possibilities appear to center on rest and physical therapy or a surgical procedure to address the chips. No official decision on treatment or a projected return timeline has been shared by the team.
Klein landed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 1 with right elbow discomfort. The updated findings leave open the question of whether he can contribute during the final weeks of the regular season or in any postseason games that follow.
Before the injury, Klein had carved out a solid role in the Dodgers’ bullpen. He finished the early portion of the year strong, posting a 1.88 ERA and a walk rate of 7.3 percent through the end of May.
His results took a sharp turn after that. From June onward, Klein recorded a 6.11 ERA and a 15 percent walk rate. He allowed runs in each of his last six outings before the injured-list move, giving up 13 runs, eight of them earned, across 6 1/3 innings.
Overall this season, Klein still carries a 3.67 ERA with 49 strikeouts and two saves in 41 2/3 innings over 36 appearances. Neither the pitcher nor the organization has indicated when the elbow issues first appeared or whether they played a part in the late-season decline.
The Dodgers initially recalled right-hander Wyatt Mills to fill the roster spot created by Klein’s absence. Mills was designated for assignment two days later and claimed off waivers Thursday by the Washington Nationals, removing one potential depth piece.
Klein’s situation carries extra weight because of his unexpected contribution during the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series championship run. In Game 3 against the Toronto Blue Jays, he entered as the final available reliever and delivered four scoreless innings.
Klein allowed just one hit and struck out five batters while throwing a career-high 72 pitches in the Dodgers’ 6-5 victory that stretched 18 innings. He earned the win after Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run ended the marathon contest. Klein had not appeared on the postseason roster through the first three rounds before that standout performance.
This year, he had begun to build on that success, working his way into higher-leverage spots and recording the first two saves of his career. His absence now removes a multi-inning option from a bullpen already short-handed with Blake Treinen and Brock Stewart on the injured list.
The Dodgers must decide whether a more cautious path of rest and rehabilitation can settle the elbow or whether surgery to remove the bone chips represents the stronger long-term choice. Until that call is made, any assumption of a short stay on the injured list would be premature.
Klein’s recovery remains a key variable for a pitching staff navigating the stretch run.
The organization has not offered further public comments on the matter beyond the details reported Thursday.
