The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Josh Fields from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed Grant Dayton on the 10-day disabled list with a left intercostal strain. Fields provides needed depth to a weary bullpen heading into a two-game series against the Colorado Rockies.
Dayton threw a hitless inning in Tuesday’s loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Following the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he only had Dayton, Chris Hatcher and Kenley Jansen available out of the bullpen.
Luis Avilan and Sergio Romo were only options to face one or two batters. Avilan wound up facing three batters in one-third of an inning. Roberts intimated in his postgame remarks that a roster move to bring in a reliever on Tuesday was probable.
Dayton has thrown 6.1 shutout innings over seven relief appearances this season. He’s allowed just two hits, issued three walks, and recorded four strikeouts.
Fields returns four days after he was optioned to Oklahoma City in a corresponding roster move to reinstate Pedro Baez from the DL. Fields is eligible for the quick return because he’s replacing an injured player on the active roster.
At the time of sending Fields down, Roberts called it an “unfortunate situation” and surmised the right-hander would re-join the club in the near future.
Fields has appeared in four games for the Dodgers this season, allowing just one hit and issuing one walk over three shutout innings. He’s struck out six of 11 batters faced, and has at least one strikeout in three of four appearances.
In addition to having Minor League options, Fields was sent down so as to get a break from throwing after high usage during his brief time with the Dodgers.
With Dayton on the disabled list, Adam Liberatore in the Minors, and Alex Wood moved back into the starting rotation, the Dodgers are down to one left-handed reliever in Avilan.
