The Los Angeles Dodgers lost arguably their best reliever to the injured list on Aug. 26 as Alex Vesia was dealing with a right oblique strain.
Vesia’s IL stint was retroactive to Aug. 23, which made Sunday, Sept. 7, the earliest day he could return. Even though oblique strains can be tricky, Vesia was hopeful he would be back right around that date.
That also held true for Max Muncy, who has been out since Aug. 5 because of a Grade 1 right oblique strain.
Both players have been on respective rehab assignments with Triple-A Oklahoma City the past few days, and manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers anticipate adding them to their roster on Monday, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
Dave Roberts said Max Muncy and Alex Vesia are expected to be active tomorrow, with Tommy Edman at some point after that.
Vesia made his first rehab appearance on Sept. 3, and Muncy joined the Comets one day later.
Vesia has pitched in two games, throwing two perfect innings while striking out three. Muncy has gone a combined 2-for-7 with two walks and two strikeouts over three games.
Prior to landing on the IL, Vesia was going through a rough stretch, which included allowing a run in four consecutive appearances. But despite that, Roberts continued to show trust in the southpaw and kept utilizing him in high-leverage situations.
It was not without reason, as Vesia has been one of the Dodgers’ most-dependable relievers this year, posting a 2.75 ERA in 52.1 innings while striking out 11.87 hitters per nine and walking 3.10 per nine.
Meanwhile, Muncy’s importance to the Dodgers has been especially highlighted over his two separate stints on the injured list this year.
How will the Dodgers make room for Alex Vesia?
The Dodgers will need to make a roster decision once Vesia returns, and it may be one they prefer not to avoid.
Justin Wrobleski, Jack Dreyer, Ben Casparius, Edgaro Henriquez and Emmet Sheehan all have options remaining, so that would be the easiest and most likely way to make room. However, none of them deserve to be optioned, which makes it a tougher decision.
The Dodgers could designate Kirby Yates for assignment given his 4.71 ERA in 36.1 innings, but that move would also come as a surprise given that he’s a veteran and someone they invested in this past offseason.
If an injury on the staff arises, that would make things simpler, but if that doesn’t happen, Wrobleski would seemingly be the odd man out given his recent usage.
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