Despite the Dodgers winning the World Series, the 2024 season was a struggle for Kelly personally. The 36-year-old right-hander missed nearly three months due to a pair of shoulder ailments and was limited to just 32 innings in 35 appearances on the season. He wasn’t sharp when he was healthy either — registering a 4.78 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and a 35/16 K/BB mark. He has a long enough track record that he won’t have any trouble finding work this winter, but there’s no guarantee that he returns to being the elite setup man that he once was.

This explains why Kelly is not on the roster for the series against the NLDS against the Padres. The right-hander will be eligible to return in the coming playoff series, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts that he wouldn’t be available until the World Series, if the Dodgers were able to advance.

Kelly is back after two hitless innings in a rehab start at Triple-A Oklahoma City. He had been sidelined since Aug. 31 with shoulder inflammation.

If all goes well, he’ll come off the injured list next week. Kelly was placed on the IL on Aug. 31 with shoulder inflammation.