Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who has been out since August 27 with an irregular heartbeat, has been taking medication and could be close to returning. Barry M. Bloom:
“I’ve just been trying to stay in shape and stay sharp. I’m feeling great,” Jansen said prior to Wednesday night’s game against the D-backs at Chase Field. “Those days that I missed I don’t feel like I’ve got to get back into it. I feel ready. I could go out and pitch today if they needed me. But I can’t. I’ve got to get off the blood thinner first. That’s how good I feel.”
Bloom reports that Jansen will be off the blood thinner Monday, and could be cleared to be return the next day. There’s one worry, though:
Club physicians are concerned that Jansen would be subjected to excessive bleeding if he receives a wound while pitching. That could be dangerous.
As long as he avoids that, he should be fine. The Dodgers could use him in the tight race for the N.L.’s second wild card. Jansen will have a heart procedure in the offseason to try to correct the irregular heartbeat.
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