Max Scherzer was added to the Los Angeles Dodgers active roster and Luke Raley optioned prior to Saturday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta were also recalled, with Tony Gonsolin landing on the 10-day injured list and Brusdar Graterol optioned.
The Dodgers acquired Scherzer along with Trea Turner in a blockbuster trade that sent Keibert Ruiz, Josiah Gray, Donovan Casey and Gerardo Carrillo to the Washington Nationals. The deal came to together on the eve of the MLB trade deadline and was made official Friday.
Scherzer met the Dodgers in Arizona on Saturday, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session before the series finale at Chase Field, and that will set him up to likely make his debut against the Houston Astros.
“It’s really surreal,” manager Dave Roberts said of seeing Scherzer with the Dodgers. “I know people use that word too often, but just seeing him in our clubhouse, I’m only used to seeing him in All-Star Games. It’s really great.
“He’s excited, his family will be en route shortly. We just kind of talked about his bullpen, housing and where they’re potentially going to land in Los Angeles, and he was getting familiar with his teammates. Very exciting.”
Scherzer is wearing the same No. 31 he did with the Nationals, which for the Dodgers last belonged to Joc Pederson.
The future Hall of Famer is 8-4 with a 2.74 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 19 starts this season.
Raley heads back to Oklahoma City one week after being recalled. He started in three games during that span, going just 1-for-9 with two strikeouts. On the season Raley is batting .169/.246/.237 with one double, one home run and two RBI in 30 games (13 starts) for L.A.
The 26-year-old made his MLB debut off the bench in the Dodgers’ home opener.
Friedman confident in Scherzer
Although Scherzer is 37 years old, his velocity has held well and the right-hander remains among the game’s top pitchers. He could wind up being just a rental for the Dodgers, but for however long Scherzer is with the organization, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is confident in his abilities.
“I think the stuff obviously is elite. The compete, you can just watch him pitch and see how much that stands out,” Friedman said. “Just how much he wants to win, the way he battles on the mound pitch to pitch, always seems to put his team in the best position to win games, which is what this is all about.
“He’s one of the best pitchers of our generation, is tested in October and is very hungry to win another championship.”
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