Like I've thought all season long, it looks as if the struggles of Hong-Chih Kuo are at least partially related to health. He's been placed back on the 15-day DL with elbow problems, which is the same one that's had two Tommy John surgeries on it. Not good.
To say I'm worried would be an understatement. He's a complete shut-down reliever when he's all good, as evidenced by last season when hitters would be lost against him. But it was obvious things just weren't right from the start of this season. You don't go from a 2.14 ERA last season to 6.75 this season without something being up.
I can only hope I'm getting too carried away here, and that a couple weeks or so of rest will make him better. With Cory Wade back, the Dodgers would ideally like to see the combination of Kuo and Wade pitch the 8th and get the ball to Jonathan Broxton to finish off games. Let's hold out hope that that will be the case as the season wears on.
As for his replacement on the roster, look for Scott Elbert to turn quickly around from being sent down earlier in the week and make his way back to the big club.
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