The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Corey Knebel and Dennis Santana on the injured list and recalled Matt Beaty and Garrett Cleavinger ahead of Saturday’s game against the San Diego Padres.
Knebel was put on the 10-day IL due to a right lat strain, and Santana is on the COVID-19-related IL after receiving a vaccination and falling under the weather. Santana therefore is eligible to return before the minimum 10 days.
Knebel threw five pitches on Friday and was removed after issuing a leadoff walk. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the loss that Knebel felt a “sensation” in the upper tricep area of his right arm. However, an MRI has since made it clear the injury was with his lat.
“I just don’t know the grade,” Roberts said Saturday. “I do know that he’s going to go on the IL. It’s going to be a few months looking out. I don’t want to be specific to a timeline, because I just don’t really know. I don’t think anyone knows.
“Our hope, our expectation is that he will pitch again for us this year.”
Even with the prospect of being without Knebel for much of the season, Roberts acknowledged there was some relief he did not injure a right elbow that already has undergone Tommy John surgery. Furthermore, Roberts said Knebel did not suffer a tear despite the long-term prognosis.
“I talked to him earlier today and he was as good as you can expect,” Roberts said. “I just kind of heard from him is that the expectation is he’ll be back at some point. I don’t know when and I didn’t go into the diagnosis.”
Knebel did not allow a run or hit in his first seven relief appearances. That was ended last week when he gave up two runs on three hits to the Padres at Petco Park. The Dodgers expect to rely on Scott Alexander, Brusdar Graterol and eventually Joe Kelly in Knebel’s absence.
Santana entered in relief of Knebel on Friday to finish out the ninth inning. It was a rocky appearance for the right-hander as he allowed two runs on two hits and two walks, which led to the Padres breaking the game open. Santana has a 7.71 ERA over five appearances this season.
Beaty is back with the Dodgers after being optioned in favor of Alex Vesia when the Dodgers needed bullpen protection. Vesia was then sent down the following day as the corresponding move to Graterol being reinstated from the IL.
Beaty has one hit, two walks and six strikeouts in 11 at-bats over 10 games (one start).
Cleavinger, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in a three-team trade that also involved the Tampa Bay Rays, is with the Dodgers for the first time this season. Cleavinger made his MLB debut with the Phillies last year, though only made one appearance.
Dodgers hopeful with Taylor
Chris Taylor was out of the lineup for a third consecutive game due to lower back stiffness, but he has continued to make progress. The Dodgers are optimistic he will return Sunday for the series finale against the Padres.
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