The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Brusdar Graterol on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation and recalled Phil Bickford from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to their series finale against the New York Mets. Graterol’s IL stint was backdated to Wednesday, Aug. 31.
He last pitched Sunday, retiring all three Miami Marlins batters faced in what was a third appearance in five days. Overall, it was just Graterol’s fourth game since spending five weeks on the IL because of right shoulder inflammation.
Graterol not being available to face the Mets in the first game at Citi Field was part of the Dodgers only being able to rely on Heath Hembree, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips and Jake Reed in their 4-3 comeback win.
Graterol is 2-3 with three saves, a 3.02 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across 41 appearances this season.
Bickford returns two days removed from being optioned to Oklahoma City. He was eligible to return without waiting the standard 15 days after a Minor League option due to replacing an injured player on the active roster.
Bickford has failed to replicate his success from last season, pitching to a 5.14 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Bickford’s 51 appearances this year is second-most among all Dodgers pitchers, trailing only Phillips and Vesia, who each have made 52 entering play Thursday.
Expanded Dodgers roster
Also before wrapping up their series with the Mets, the Dodgers activated Clayton Kershaw off the 15-day IL and recalled Miguel Vargas from Oklahoma City.
Vargas joined the Dodgers’ taxi squad on Wednesday in preparation of being added to the active rosters once they expanded to 28 players.
Kershaw returns to start against the Mets and is back in the Dodgers’ rotation after missing one month due to lower back pain.
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