The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing another difficult elbow decision after tests reportedly revealed bone chips in reliever Will Klein’s right elbow.
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported Thursday that the Dodgers are weighing their next step for Klein. The likely choices include rest and physical therapy or surgery, according to Ardaya. No treatment plan or recovery timetable has been announced.
Options will likely include rest and physical therapy or a surgery route.
Hoping Klein has a full recovery and we see him back at some point 🙏
Los Angeles placed Klein on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort on August 1. The new diagnosis makes it unclear whether the 26-year-old will be available for the stretch run or a potential postseason roster.
Will Klein’s Troubling Slide Gets New Context
GettyWill Klein #61 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after giving up a three-run home run during the seventh inning of the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 26, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Klein had developed into a useful, increasingly trusted bullpen piece before his performance deteriorated. He allowed runs in each of his final six appearances before landing on the injured list, surrendering 13 runs, eight earned, over 6 1/3 innings.
His split before and after June was dramatic. Klein produced a 1.88 ERA and 7.3% walk rate through May, then recorded a 6.11 ERA with a 15% walk rate beginning in June, according to True Blue LA.
Klein still owns a 3.67 ERA, 49 strikeouts, and two saves across 41 2/3 innings in 36 appearances this season. However, his late command problems and declining results now carry added significance in light of the elbow finding. Neither Klein nor the Dodgers have said when the discomfort began or whether it contributed to those struggles.
The Dodgers initially recalled Wyatt Mills when Klein went on the injured list, but designated Mills for assignment two days later. The Washington Nationals claimed Mills off waivers Thursday, removing that immediate depth option.
Dodgers Could Lose Unlikely World Series Hero
GettyWill Klein #61 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws against the Texas Rangers in the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Klein’s injury resonates because of his role in Los Angeles’ 2025 championship.
The right-hander became an unexpected hero in Game 3 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Klein delivered four scoreless innings, allowed one hit, and struck out five while throwing a career-high 72 pitches in the Dodgers’ 6-5, 18-inning victory.
He entered as the last available reliever and earned the win when Freddie Freeman ended the marathon with a walk-off home run. Klein had not appeared on the Dodgers’ roster during the first three postseason rounds before producing one of the club’s defining October performances.
His 2026 workload established that contribution as more than a one-night story. Klein moved into higher-leverage situations and recorded the first two saves of his career.
That uncertainty adds pressure to a bullpen already missing Blake Treinen and Brock Stewart, both on the injured list. Klein’s absence also eliminates a multi-inning option that could cover emergency starts when needed.
Now the Dodgers must determine whether a conservative approach can calm his elbow or whether removing the bone chips offers the better long-term solution. Until that decision is made, a minimum-length injured-list stay should not be assumed.
Dodgers Face Surgery Decision on World Series Hero Will Klein: Report