The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Kenta Maeda off the 10-day disabled list and optioned Kyle Garlick to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. Maeda returns from a left adductor contusion to start the series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Maeda was placed on the IL because of the injury he sustained when fouling a pitch off his hip on May 15. Maeda remained in the game and turned in one of the best starts of his career, going 6.2 shutout innings while collecting 12 strikeouts.
He additionally had a two-run double that proved to the difference for the Dodgers in their 2-0 win over the San Diego Padres. Maeda became the first pitcher since 1920 (when RBI became an official statistic) to record at least 12 strikeouts in a game while driving in all of his team’s runs (minimum two runs scored).
Maeda’s injury wasn’t considered serious, and the Dodgers capitalized on off days in their schedule to temporarily operate with a four-man starting rotation. Maeda threw an ‘aggressive’ bullpen session less than one week after being placed on the IL.
Garlick returns to Oklahoma City after spending just two days with the Dodgers. He joined the team as a corresponding move to Joe Kelly being placed on the bereavement list.
Although the Dodgers began their series at PNC Park without Kelly and Pedro Baez limited as he recovers from being hit in the shin by a line drive, the Dodgers felt Ross Stripling and Julio Urias allowed for them to opt for a position player in Garlick.
The Cal Poly Pomona product appeared in each of the first two games against the Pirates as a pinch-hitter. Garlick has logged three such plate appearances over his two stints with the Dodgers this season but has yet to come up with a hit.
He’s batting .280/.375/.627 with nine doubles, one triple, 10 home runs and 20 RBI through 35 games with Oklahoma City this season.
