Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Brett Anderson will be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and start Thursday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies. Anderson was put on the DL on Aug. 23, with the stint retroactive to Aug. 21.
The start will come six days after Anderson was last on the mound. He allowed one run on three hits and had five strikeouts in five innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City in Game 3 of the Pacific Coast League championship series.
“The blister was in much better shape (after the rehab start). Brett has to pitch off the sinker, and the blister was impeding that sinker when he was pitching up here,” Roberts said on Tuesday.
“[Rehab] start was very good. The velocity on the fastball, depth with the sinker was back. For us, that’s the most telling factor. Pitch count is up, and we expect him to pitch well.”
Anderson only made two starts after returning in August from back surgery. His 2016 debut came to an end after just one inning due to a mild left wrist sprain. Anderson allowed five runs on five hits, including two home runs, prior to getting out of the first.
Anderson nonetheless managed to make his next turn in the rotation. But that outing was also cut short due to injury, which was revealed to be the blister. The 28-year-old said it began to develop during his final rehab start with Oklahoma City.
On the year he’s allowed 11 earned runs and three home runs in just four-plus innings. Should Anderson pitch well, he may be among the multiple options who will be considered for the Dodgers’ fourth starter in a potential postseason rotation.