The Los Angeles Dodgers are finally getting healthy. Maybe. They have activated right-handed reliever Luis Garcia from the Injured List. In the corresponding move, they have optioned right-hander Will Klein to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Klein pitched two innings of scoreless baseball in mop-up duty at Coors Field last night in an 8-1 win.
Reversal of Fortune
The Dodgers got Klein from the Seattle Mariners for pitching depth. The right-hander spent some time in the Majors with the Mariners, but with little success. His 7.36 Earned Run Average quickly sent him to Triple-A Tacoma. The Dodgers, whose right-handed reliever core has been decimated by injuries, saw potential. In his limited time with Los Angeles, he has gone 3 and 2/3 innings, and not allowed a run, struck out five, and walked only one.
Recovery Time
Luis Garcia has been on the I.L. with an abductor strain. The reliever signed a minor league contract with Los Angeles over the winter. The Dodgers originally drafted Garcia in 2004. He has bounced in and out of baseball over the last 20 years. His previous stop was last year with the Boston Red Sox. He had limited success. In 2025, the Dodgers will use him to cover innings. He has a 4.50 ERA over 26 innings with 23 strikeouts.
Are things finally looking up?
At one point this season, the Dodgers had a Major League high 14 pitchers on the I.L. The number is now down to 11, and it appears that more help is on the way. Left-hander Tyler Glasnow will soon have his second rehab appearance in Triple-A Oklahoma City. He has been on the I.L. with a cranky shoulder since late April. If all goes well, he could join the starting rotation in July.
One Other Thing….
Clayton Kershaw takes the mound in the series finale against the Colorado Rockies today. He is just eight strikeouts away from 3ooo in his career. Another milestone in his Hall-of-Fame career.
All in all, for the Dodgers, getting healthy seems to be a milestone all its own.
Main Photo Credits: Brad Mills-Imagn Images
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