Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is expected to be out of action for about a month as he undergoes treatment for an irregular heartbeat, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.
Jansen was hospitalized and sent back to Los Angeles, and will undergo tests. An irregular heartbeat likely won't keep Jansen out for the season, but it is a serious case nonetheless. The Dodgers are down another key player of the roster, and the bullpen will have to hold the fort down until he returns.
The 30-year-old Jansen has racked up 32 saves this season, striking out 61 batters in 54.1 innings pitched while posting an impressive 2.15 ERA. Widely regarded as the best closer in all of baseball, Jansen has racked up at least 30 saves in each of the last five seasons, highlighted by a 47-save season in 2016.
The Dodgers reached the NLCS in 2016 and followed it up with a trip to the 2017 World Series, where they lost to the Houston Astros in seven games. Entering play on Friday, the Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks are tied for first in the NL West with identical 64-52 records.
Los Angeles has been hit hard with a brutal amount of injuries this year. Star shortstop Corey was ruled out for the season in April after it was announced he required Tommy John surgery. Third baseman Justin Turner missed several weeks after breaking his wrist, while ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw has been hampered by a nagging back injury all season.
Nonetheless, manager Dave Roberts has kept the group focused, and the Dodgers are still a bonafide World Series contender. There is plenty of depth in the bullpen to get by while Jansen is sidelined.
But there's no replacing a closer of his caliber, and the Dodgers can only hope he undergoes smooth treatment, and can get back in time for the postseason.