In a surprise move, the Los Angeles Dodgers placed right-hander Evan Phillips on the injured list on Wedneday with right forearm discomfort. Phillips began the season on the IL and returns after making just seven appearances for the Dodgers in 2025.

The reliever spoke about the injury and his overall emotions heading back to the IL.

“I thought it was just reacclimating to the workload,” Phillips said, via The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett. “I always felt good when I pitched, so that’s kind of where my disappointment comes in. I do feel like I can still contribute, but I think what it comes down to is we don’t want to mess around with something in early May.”

Phillips said the soreness he’s experiencing has “kind of bounced around a little bit.” The injury has affected him “in my lower arm, or bicep, tricep, forearm.” While he was being treated for the soreness, the recovery has not gone well.

The Dodgers currently have a total of 13 pitchers on the IL, an indication the team’s injury woes from last season have only continued.

“Could he have pitched today? Absolutely,” manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday. “No one knows how he would feel responding going forward. So I think for us, it just made the most sense to IL him. Our expectation is on that 16th day, he’ll be back active. It’s just more of a precaution.”

Phillips had not allowed a run this season, throwing six strikeouts while allowing two walks over 5.2 innings. The right-hander was one of the best relievers for the Dodgers last season, finishing the year with a 3.62 ERA, 63 strikeouts, and 17 walks over 54.2 innings pitched.

The Dodgers’ bullpen currently leads the league in innings, and the injuries to the pitching staff is a huge factor as to why.