The Los Angeles Dodgers officially placed Bud Norris on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, retroactive to Aug. 1, with a mild back strain. Ross Stripling was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City, and starts against the Boston Red Sox in the second of a three-game series.
He was optioned to Oklahoma City on Aug. 2, but is able to return earlier than the usual 10-day waiting period because of an injury to a player previously on the Dodgers’ active roster. Norris extends the club’s National League-record number of players sent to the DL this season to 26.
Los Angeles will break the Red Sox’ record that was set in 2012, should they place two more players on the disabled list prior to season’s end.
Norris only managed to face two batters in his July 31 start, and was removed with what the Dodgers initially called back muscle tightness. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Norris referred to the injury as a lat strain after the game.
It was then upgraded to back strain after Norris threw a bullpen session during the week. He was acquired in part to fortify the rotation when Clayton Kershaw was lost to the DL. Norris went 3-2 with 4.34 ERA, 4.10 FIP and 1.21 WHIP in seven games (six starts) for the Dodgers.
Stripling began this season as the Dodgers’ fifth starter, going 1-3 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over eight outings in that role. He was pressed into emergency relief duty during an extra-innings game May 22 and got optioned to Oklahoma City the following day.
Stripling made one start in Triple-A before spending time on the disabled list with lower body fatigue. The DL stint also served as means to limit his innings workload.
Upon rejoining the Dodgers on July 23, the right-hander was exclusively used out of the bullpen. Stripling sported a 2.08 ERA in three relief appearances (8.1 innings) after being recalled.
