LOS ANGELES ― It is not unusual for a Major League Baseball player to live in one city during the offseason and work in another most of the year. Thousands of miles can separate their personal and professional lives.
Heaney will resume his usual routine with the Dodgers on Sunday, when he will be activated from the injured list to start against the Cleveland Guardians. It will be Heaney’s first start since April 17. Heaney’s primary breaking ball is now more of a “sweeper,” featuring more horizontal movement than the traditional slider he threw for the Angels from 2015-21. His success going forward could hinge on the efficacy of that one pitch.
They must cut two relievers from their 10-man bullpen, and add one position player, before their nine-game road trip to Cincinnati, Atlanta and Denver begins on Tuesday. That kicks off a stretch of 20 games in 20 days, which will test the limits of a bullpen that is accustomed to throwing one inning at a time.