Pitching in back-to-back games for the first time since being placed on the disabled list two weeks ago with a strained back, Hong-Chih Kuo allowed hits to four of the five batters he faced last night at Single-A.
Kuo had been slated to be activated Friday, but now Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that his return “is in doubt.”
His entire career has been filled with dominating performances in between injuries, but most of the previous problems have been arm-related and the Dodgers’ bullpen could really use him with Jonathan Broxton struggling and no one quite sure who should be closing games.
Kuo was nearly unhittable last season, throwing 60 innings with a 1.20 ERA and 73/18 K/BB ratio while opponents batted a ridiculous .139 against him. He has a 3.19 ERA in 268 career innings and his 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings lead all active left-handed pitchers.
