Injuries continue to plague Oregon pitching staff as postseason approaches
As Oregon gears up for its final series of the regular season, the status of the program’s top two starting pitchers remains in flux.
Last week, Ducks’ head coach Mark Wasikowski provided an optimistic update that junior right-handers Jace Stoffal and Isaac Ayon would be available to pitch during the weekend series with Washington.
However, neither player made an appearance, and the Oregon pitching staff struggled mightily. The Huskies hung 43 runs on the Ducks and won all three games in Eugene.
As Oregon looks to get back on track during this week’s three-game series with Utah in Salt Lake City, it sounds as though the Ducks will continue to operate without Stoffal and Ayon.
“All I’m told is he keeps progressing. He will be traveling with us on the road trip,” Wasikowski said of Stoffal. “He traveled with us to USC. He was on that road trip as well. We’re going to make a decision on when he’s active and what’s going on when we get more information. He’s progressing. I’m a little bit skittish about the fact that he’ll be ready for this weekend. I would bet that he’s not, but I know he’s feeling as though the Pac-12 tournament would clearly be a place where he’s feeling more comfortable with. Ultimately, it’s a feel thing for him.”
Stoffal, who has emerged as Oregon’s Friday night starter this spring, owns a 2.83 ERA in 57 1/3 innings. Prior to his injury, he was performing like one of the top pitchers in the Pac-12.
But he has not pitched since the Ducks’ April 28 win over Arizona State due to an undisclosed injury.
Ayon, who was projected to be Oregon’s Friday starter before the season began, has not pitched an inning this season due to an arm injury.
Last weekend, Wasikowski indicated that Ayon is expected to return before the end of the regular season.
But now, his status for the trip to Salt Lake is unclear.
“Usually, these guys with these arm injuries, they have a setback somewhere in there. So far — knock on wood — we haven’t had a setback,” Wasikowski said of Ayon. “He’s not going through just, like, a headache; take a couple of aspirin and he’ll be okay. Nevertheless, he’s passed the tests that he needs to pass. Hopefully, he can be available, at least for the Pac-12 tournament. And then potentially. … through the postseason run. So that’s what our intentions are, and we’ll learn more by the day, obviously.”
Oregon will also likely be without standout reliever Matt Dallas. After serving as one of the program’s top bullpen options early in the season, Dallas has struggled of late and surrendered eight earned runs throughout two appearances during the Washington series.
Oregon (31-19, 14-13 Pac-12) will kick off a three-game set with the Utes Thursday at 5:30 p.m. PT. They will then play at 10 a.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday to close out the regular season.
The Ducks will kick off play at the Pac-12 tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz., on May 23.
