Although the Los Angeles Dodgers did not acquire any help for the back of their bullpen before the MLB trade deadline this season, they will be adding another high-leverage arm to the group at the start of their road trip.
Corey Knebel, who has been out since April 24 due to a right lat strain, completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City and is expected to return to the active roster on Tuesday.
“Just to have Corey initially, saw him in Spring Training and having him early (in the season), was great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s great on the field and in the clubhouse. He’s a pro. So now to get him back on Tuesday is like we get an acquisition.”
Knebel was acquired during the offseason to strengthen the bullpen, and he looked like a strong acquisition through eight appearances as he posted a 1.67 FIP and 37.5 strikeout rate before being placed on the 10-day injured list.
Knebel holds a career 3.34 ERA and 3.27 FIP with a 34.1 strikeout percentage and 10.8 walk rate while picking up 59 saves in 242.1 innings. His best season came in 2017 when Knebel posted a 1.78 ERA in 76 innings pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers.
When he returns, Knebel will help relieve some of Blake Treinen’s workload in the setup role and he will likely pick up a few saves when Roberts wants to avoid using Kenley Jansen in back-to-back games.
Lux begins rehab
While Knebel’s time with OKC came to an end, Gavin Lux joined the Dodgers’ top affiliate on Sunday. He started at second baes and went 0-for-3 with one walk and two runs scored in a 15-10 win.
Lux was placed on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain on July 19 and was expected to miss at least a few weeks.
If or when Lux returns to L.A., it will likely be in a bench role as Trea Turner has taken over as the everyday second baseman and Corey Seager is fully healthy again.
So far in his young career, the former top prospect has struggled to find his footing in MLB. So far this season Lux is batting .227/.307/.349 with an 83 wRC+ and 0.8 WAR in 82 games.
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