The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Brusdar Graterol off the 15-day injured list and optioned Ryan Pepiot to Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to the series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.
Graterol returns from right shoulder inflammation that forced him to the IL on July 14 (retroactive to July 11). The Dodgers initially expected Graterol to make a quick recovery but wound up exercising more caution.
The 23-year-old began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Aug. 12, and made four total appearances for the affiliate. Graterol was projected to return during the weekend series with the Miami Marlins, but a rainout prevented him from completing targeted back-to-back appearances with Oklahoma City and caused a minor delay.
Graterol returns to the Dodgers bullpen after last having pitched for OKC on Aug. 19. He threw 3.2 innings and had four strikeouts across four scoreless appearances while on the rehab assignment. Graterol allowed just one hit during that span, holding opponents to a .091 batting average.
The results were encouraging, but not necessarily a focal point for the Dodgers.
“In Brusdar’s case, how is the slider looking? How is he recovering from the velocity of the sinker, the cutter?” manager Dave Roberts said earlier this month.
Graterol is 2-3 with three saves, a 3.35 ERA, 3.32 FIP and 0.97 WHIP over 37 games for the Dodgers this season.
Pepiot heads back to Oklahoma City one day after the first quality start of his career. He held the Marlins to just two runs over six innings and collected a season-high seven strikeouts.
Pepiot was recalled earlier this month to fill the void in the starting rotation when Clayton Kershaw was put on the IL due to lower back pain. Pepiot made a string of three starts in August, going 1-0 with a 5.43 ERA in those outings. Overall, he’s 2-0 with a 4.02 ERA in seven starts at the Major League level.
Pepiot learning from being with Dodgers
Now having been up with the team for three separate stints this season, Pepiot explained his comfort level has continued to improve and he’s taken advantage of being around a strong pitching staff.
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