The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Kenley Jansen from the paternity list and optioned Mitch White prior to Tuesday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Jansen’s wife Gianni gave birth to Key’Gia Keziah Jansen at 10:06 a.m. PT on Sunday morning. The longtime Dodgers’ closer went on paternity leave that same day and was away from the team the past two games.
A player put on the paternity list requires them to miss at least one day but no more than three. Jansen had been expected to return on Tuesday all along.
The offense and Max Scherzer took the burden off the Dodgers bullpen in the series finale against the San Diego Padres, and Phil Bickford, Alex Vesia, Corey Knebel and White followed Clayton Kershaw on Monday night.
White had the longest appearance of the relief pitchers at two perfect innings to finish out the Dodgers’ 5-1 win. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 20 games (four starts) this season.
Prior to beginning his leave, Jansen had pitched three consecutive days. “I think Gianni and Kenley have been around so long, they kind of timed it out,” Roberts said of the berth.
“It worked out. I think it was either going to be [Sunday] 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.
Jansen humbled by milestone
Earlier this season Jansen reached 1,000 career strikeouts, which he said was a humbling achievement considering his career began as a catcher.
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