On the 14th, "Korean Monster" Hyun-jin Ryu, a starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers probably had his worst start on the 14th at the AT & T Ball Park in San Francisco against the Giants. Don Mattingly, the manager of the Dodgers announced at a press conference that was held right after the game that Ryu will be receiving an MRI scan on the 16th once the team gets back to L.A.
For the second time this year, Ryu has failed to earn his 15th win of the season. Two days ago in a game against the San Francisco Giants Ryu managed to pitch only one frame allowing 5 hits, a walk and4 earned runs. Ryu's ERA (Earned Runs Average) escalated to 3.38, and it has become uncertain when he would be able to come back on the mound. Mattingly told reporters that it is unrealistic to allow his pitcher to play on Wednesday as originally planned after the tests on Monday.
In the 2nd frame of the game, Ryu told his coach that he felt sharp pains in his shoulder. They are similar to the pains the pitcher felt earlier in May. Dodgers staff expressed that it is yet uncertain what the issue is and they will have to wait until Ryu gets examined by the Dodgers' team doctor.
Many of Ryu's Korean fans had expressed great excitant and expectations that he will be able to break the record of Chan Ho Park in his prime. Park in the 2000 MLB (Major League Baseball) season earned 18 starting wins. Park was the highest winning Asian until the record was broken by Taiwanese pitcher Chien Ming Wang (New York Yankees). Considering the number of games remaining in the 2014 MLB season, it has become impossible for Ryu to break his predecessor's record on time.
Meanwhile, the LA Times expressed some concern over the Dodgers and their rivals, the San Francisco Giants. They asked the question, "What will happen to the Dodgers if they lose Hyun-Jin Ryu?" The L.A. newspaper noted how the Dodgers became a much more balanced team after Ryu joined Kershaw and Greinke in the starting lineup, and the loss of an important asset could be disastrous in their attempt to enter the play offs with the Giants hot on their tail.
