Nelson worked effectively with his fastball and slider Thursday against the Cubs, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson was sitting between 94 and 96 miles per hour with his fastball and also generated at least one whiff with his slider. After missing the entire 2020 campaign while recovering from back surgery, Nelson has proved to be healthy and named as a potential fifth starter for the team to begin the season. While consistently maintaining a starting role throughout the entire season doesn't appear to be a likely outcome for Nelson, it's nevertheless positive that he has been relatively sharp with his pitches early on this spring.

Nelson (back) was included in manager Dave Roberts' comments about potential starters during the 2021 campaign, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson is in camp as a non-roster invitee after missing all of last season due to back surgery, so his path to a roster spot among a deep Dodgers staff appears rocky. Still, the right-hander has enjoyed plenty of big-league success in the past, so a comeback is not out of the question if he's able to prove he still has some gas in the tank during spring training. Nelson has already thrown a bullpen session during camp, so he at least appears recovered from the issues that set him back in 2020.

Nelson (back) signed a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Friday as a non-roster invitee, Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson's $2 million team option was declined by the Dodgers at the end of October, but he'll return to the organization on a minor-league pact. He underwent lumbar surgery in July that forced him to miss the entire 2020 season, and the right-hander has now missed two of the past three seasons due to injuries. However, Nelson will get to work with the major-league coaching staff during spring training as he attempts to work his way back into game action.

Nelson's (back) $2 million team option was declined by the Dodgers on Friday, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing lumbar surgery in early July, and he'll receive a $500,000 buyout from the Dodgers as he prepares for free agency. The 31-year-old's health is unclear heading into the offseason. He made 10 appearances (three starts) for the Brewers in 2019, but Nelson has now missed two of the past three seasons due to injuries.

Nelson (back) landed on the 45-day injured list Tuesday, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The righty is set to undergo lumbar surgery, a procedure which will wipe out his 2020 season entirely. The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the Dodgers to add Jake McGee, who signed a major-league deal.

Nelson will undergo lumbar surgery Tuesday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

The bad luck for Nelson continues, as he simply hasn't been able to stay healthy since his breakout season in 2017, when he cruised to a 3.49 ERA and a 27.3 percent strikeout rate before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. That serious injury and subsequent surgery kept him out for all of 2018 and a portion of 2019 as well, with elbow issues then pitching in to limit him to just 22 innings. He can now add back issues to that increasingly long list of ailments. The procedure is expected to keep him out for the entirety of this season, so he'll have thrown just 22 major-league innings over a three-season stretch when he attempts to make his comeback in 2021. The Dodgers have a $2 million club option on Nelson for 2021 with a $500,000 buyout.

Nelson (back/groin) has had ample time to heal due to MLB's hiatus and could break camp with the Dodgers in some capacity, Rowan Kavner of Dodger Insider reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson had already resumed throwing before play was suspended, so the extra time off has likely given him the opportunity to fully heal from the back and groin issues that prevented him from appearing in any Cactus League games. Once considered a longshot to make the Opening Day roster, Nelson now has a strong chance to open the campaign with the Dodgers, probably as a reliever.

Nelson (lower body) threw 17 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday and emerged healthy, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though Nelson reportedly displayed erratic command in the session, the good news is that he did not experience any setbacks. Due to his injury issues this spring, Nelson is "extremely unlikely" to be on the Dodgers' Opening Day roster, per Gurnick.

Nelson (lower body) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson has dealt with multiple injuries throughout camp (most recently lower-body discomfort), but he's on track to resume mound work Friday after playing catch earlier in the week with no issues. While he's no longer in consideration for a spot in the Dodgers' Opening Day rotation, manager Dave Roberts indicated that the veteran right-hander could open the campaign in the bullpen and build up to a starter's workload over the course of the season.

Nelson (lower body) has started playing catch but is no longer in consideration for an Opening Day rotation spot, per Dodger Insider.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson, who signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers in January, has yet to throw in a Cactus League game while dealing with injuries to his groin and back and subsequent lower-body discomfort. With Opening Day less than four weeks away, Nelson's opportunity to seize a spot in the rotation has come and gone. Still, manager Dave Roberts indicated that the veteran right-hander could feasibly open the campaign in the bullpen and build up over the course of the season, so he has not yet been removed from the team's plans.