According to a team announcement on Thursday, the Dodgers activated righty reliever Brusdar Graterol from the injured list after optioning lefty reliever Justin Bruihl back to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The move comes hours before the team’s series finale against the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.
Graterol returns from the injured list for the second time this season after being sidelined since September 1 with right elbow inflammation. He has appeared in 41 games for the Dodgers this season, compiling a 2-3 record with a 3.02 ERA (15 ER/44.2 IP) and 39 strikeouts. In parts of four seasons with the Dodgers, he is a combined 7-6 with a 3.65 ERA (45 ER/111.0 IP) and 89 strikeouts.
Bruihl recorded his first career save on Sunday night against the Giants. The southpaw is 1-1 with a 3.80 ERA (10 ER/23.2 IP) and 13 strikeouts on the season. He has been with the Dodgers two seasons, recording a 1-2 record with a 3.40 ERA (16 ER/42.1 IP) and 24 strikeouts in 45 games. He was originally signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent on July 15, 2017.
Although many fans had hoped that Blake Treinen would return to the team quickly after his latest bout with shoulder soreness, the prognosis has not been so good. Skipper Dave Roberts indicated on Wednesday that Treinen may not be available in time for the postseason, which is slated to begin in just over two weeks from now.
The Dodgers’ first-round bye will afford Treinen a bit more time to try to work his way back, but banking on his return at this point is unwise. If they could get the 34-year-old back in the fold, it’d go a long way towards improving their playoff bullpen that’s currently anchored by righty Evan Phillips.
In other news, Yency Almonte continues to work his way back from elbow tightness. The righty appeared in his first rehab assignment for OKC on Tuesday, throwing an entire perfect inning with a strikeout.
In the meantime, lefty Julio Urias takes the bump for the Dodgers on Thursday as he continues his bid for the 2022 NL Cy Young Award. He will be opposed by Arizona righty Zac Gallen, who is considered by some to be a dark horse in the race.
The Dodgers will welcome back Albert Pujols and the Cardinals for a three-game set at Dodger Stadium beginning Friday. Set to start the first two games for the Dodgers are left handers Andrew Heaney and Clayton Kershaw.