The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Brandon McCarthy from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday. He’s the last of the rehabbing pitchers to get activated for a start during the four-game series against the Colorado Rockies.
Brett Anderson allowed four runs over five innings on Thursday, while Scott Kazmir only managed to throw 19 pitches in a scoreless first inning on Friday. While Kazmir was removed due to right intercostal spasms, he didn’t view the latest injury as a setback.
McCarthy’s start on Sunday is his first since Aug. 13. He’s thrown multiple simulated games since hip stiffness forced him to the disabled list on Aug. 14.
“The fastball command was very good, I saw a lot of swing-and-miss,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of McCarthy’s simulated game at Dodger Stadium last week.
The right-hander threw an estimated 75 pitches over five innings, facing Austin Barnes and Rob Segedin, among others.
Unlike Anderson and Kazmir, McCarthy was not sent out on a rehab assignment during his stint on the DL. By inserting the 33-year-old into the rotation, the Dodgers are delaying Rich Hill’s next turn to Saturday or Sunday against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
McCarthy went 2-2 with a 3.63 ERA, 3.95 FIP and 1.27 WHIP in eight starts after returning from Tommy John surgery. He was 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA in his first four starts prior to pitching through hip trouble that led to struggles.
McCarthy walked 17 batters in 12.1 innings over his past four starts. Included in that was setting a career high with five walks on Aug. 2, which he then matched in two ensuing starts.
Los Angeles now has an unprecedented 40 players on their active roster.
