The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Gus Varland from Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated Dinelson Lamet prior to Saturday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.
Despite being only 10 games into the 2024 season and just over one week into their domestic schedule, the Dodgers bullpen has shouldered a heavy workload early. Some of that was unexpected due to Bobby Miller getting chased from his start in the second inning on Friday.
Varland, who returned to the Dodgers last season after being taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Rule 5 Draft, pitched in eight games for the team. He went 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in those appearances for the Dodgers but ended the season on the 60-day injured list.
Lamet is now on waivers less than a week after joining the Dodgers roster. He appeared in three games and converted the first save of his career.
“It was incredibly exciting,” Lamet said of getting to close out a win against the San Francisco Giants. “It’s a blessing to get those opportunities for a chance to put my stamp on the game. But I wasn’t thinking about the situation of the game, I was just thinking about every time I go out on the mound, get three outs.”
The Dodgers signed Lamet to a Minor League contract in February.
Gus Varland’s 2024 season
Varland was on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster for the Seoul Series but got optioned to Oklahoma City prior to their Dodger Stadium opener during the final week of March.
Varland’s only time pitching while the Dodgers were in South Korea, including exhibitions, was an appearance in the ninth inning of their loss to the San Diego Padres on March 21. He replaced J.P. Feyereisen and needed just two pitches to get the third out.
So far with OKC this season, the 27-year-old is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA and 0.55 WHIP across three games. Varland has two scoreless appearances and held opponents to a .083 batting average in his games pitching for Oklahoma City.
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