The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Josh Fields from the 10-day disabled list and called up Charlie Culberson from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Fields, who missed eight games with a lower back strain, returns on the first day he was eligible.
Fields is 5-0 with one save, a 2.68 ERA, 4.22 FIP and 0.98 WHIP in 47 relief appearances with the Dodgers this season. He’s allowed one run or less in 45 games.
The right-hander has 49 strikeouts against 11 walks over 47 innings pitched, while holding opponents to a .192/.257/.371 batting line.
Fields was optioned to Oklahoma City multiple times this season, though only made three appearances, throwing three scoreless innings.
Culberson joins the Dodgers for the first time this season. He batted .250/.299/.336 with 13 doubles, four triples, four home runs and 32 RBI over 108 games with Oklahoma City. He hit .299/.309/.388 with three doubles, one home run and seven RBI in 29 games with the Dodgers last season.
The homer was Culberson’s first in the Majors since 2014 with the Colorado Rockies and clinched the National League West title in the Dodgers’ home game of 2016 and Vin Scully’s last at Dodger Stadium before entering retirement.
Culberson gives the team an option to plug in at shortstop this week as Corey Seager remains sidelined with a sore right elbow. Seager is expected to begin a throwing program on Monday that may last up to seven days.
Brandon McCarthy was transferred to the 60-day disabled list in order to add Culberson to the 40-man roster. McCarthy now isn’t eligible to be activated until Tuesday, Sept. 19.