Dodgers starter Brett Anderson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his back Thursday to repair a bulging disk, the Dodgers announced. He is expected to miss three to five months.
Anderson felt a "tweak" at the end of throwing live batting practice Tuesday. By Wednesday, it had gotten worse. The team said it was concerned in part because Anderson had lower-back surgery in 2014.
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It's another blow for the oft-injured Anderson, who has started just 112 games over his seven-year career.
Definitely not the start I wanted for this season but hopefully it just means a better ending.
— Brett Anderson (@BrettAnderson35) March 3, 2016
The left-hander began the offseason as the team's No. 2 starter behind Clayton Kershaw before L.A. signed Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda.
Anderson recorded a 3.69 ERA in a career-best 31 starts last season, and the Dodgers were hoping he could have a repeat year. Instead, the team will have to rely on Brandon Beachy or Mike Bolsinger to be the No. 5 starter.
"Didn’t expect our depth to be challenged so early. You can’t plan for anything in baseball," first-year manager Dave Roberts told reporters Thursday.
With starter Hyun-Jin Ryu — who is expected to make his season debut in May — experiencing discomfort in his surgically repaired left shoulder (labrum) on Wednesday, the Dodgers will have a thin rotation to begin the season. The loss of Zack Greinke looms large over for the Dodgers, who are seeking their fourth straight NL West title this season.