The Los Angeles Dodgers activated relief pitchers John Axford and Tony Cingrani from the disabled list and recalled Yimi Garcia from High-A Rancho Cucamonga ahead of Monday’s series opener with the Colorado Rockies. The moves bring the Dodgers active roster to 39 players.
Both pitchers return after joining High-A Rancho Cucamonga for a rehab assignment that was all of one appearance. Axford, Cingrani and Garcia each pitched in Game 3 of the California League championship series that the Quakes won.
Axford retired two of four batters faced, allowing one run as he gave up a double, issued a walk and threw a wild pitch. Cingrani worked a scoreless inning out of the bullpen for the Quakes, and Garcia retired both batters faced.
Cingrani has not appeared in a game for the Dodgers since June 6 due to shoulder inflammation. His absence left manager Dave Roberts searching for a reliever who was effective against both right- and left-handed batters.
Limited to just 28 games this season, Cingrani is 1-2 with a 4.84 ERA, 2.17 FIP and 1.03 WHIP, and has 36 strikeouts against six walks over 22.1 innings pitched. Daniel Hudson was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to create room for Cingrani on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Axford, acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the non-waiver trade deadline, was sidelined since Aug. 13 due to a fractured fibula. He allowed six runs and retired just one of seven batters faced in his Dodgers debut against the Houston Astros.
But the veteran right-hander bounced back with a combined three strikeouts in three scoreless innings across two appearances at Coors Field. It was in his third game for the Dodgers that Axford sustained the leg injury, though it wasn’t diagnosed until the following day.
Garcia last appeared for the Dodgers on Aug. 26, when he allowed a home run during an inning in relief against the San Diego Padres. Overall this season, he’s pitched to a 5.57 ERA in 22 games.
