The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Kenley Jansen on the paternity list and recalled Mitch White prior to the series finale against the San Diego Padres. Jansen and his wife Gianni welcomed their daughter, Key’Gia Keziah Jansen, at 10:06 a.m. PT on Sunday morning.
Jansen tweeted his daughter and wife were doing well after the birth. “Congratulations to Kenley, Gianni and the Jansen family. I know they’re excited, a healthy a baby girl,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Great thing for the Jansen family.”
A player put on paternity leave requires them to miss at least one day no more than three. Roberts said the Dodgers expect Jansen to return Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The timing of the birth comes after Jansen had pitched three consecutive days and was likely going to be unavailable Sunday anyhow. “I think Gianni and Kenley have been around so long, they kind of timed it out,” Roberts said.
“It worked out. I think it was either going to be today or [Monday]. It just really worked out.”
Jansen is 2-4 with 32 saves and a 2.43 ERA. He’s rebounded from a rough stretch after the All-Star break to convert 11 saves in a row, posting a 1-0 record and 1.29 ERA during that span.
White is back up with the Dodgers for a ninth time this season and days after being optioned among multiple roster moves this past Thursday. White started last week against the St. Louis Cardinals but took the loss after allowing three of four runs in the first inning.
He’s 1-3 with 3.92 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 19 games (four starts) this season.
Who is Dodgers closer with Jansen on leave?
Without not only Jansen but Blake Treinen because of his usage, the Dodgers potentially have a void to fill for closer on Sunday.
“I don’t know,” Roberts answered when asked who the Dodgers would lean on in that scenario. “I think it’s more of putting guys in the best position to get guys out. Whoever it is, I know we’re going to stay away from Blake and Kenley is not here, but we’ve got a lot of good options.”
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