The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Michael Kopech off the 60-day injured list and designated Chris Stratton for assignment before Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dodgers additionally reinstated Kirby Yates from the IL.
Stratton’s DFA is his second since joining the Dodgers on May 25, and comes one day after he re-signed with the team. Stratton initially cleared waivers upon his first Dodgers DFA and rejected an outright assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City in favor of becoming a free agent.
That ultimately led the right-hander back to joining the Dodgers for a second stint. Ryan Loutos was designated for assignment on Friday so Stratton could be re-signed and added onto the active roster.
Stratton and Loutos have been among multiple additions by the Dodgers over recent weeks as they looked to rotate through fresh options in a bullpen that leads baseball in innings pitched.
Stratton has made three appearances for the Dodgers, with his most recent coming in their series opener at Busch Stadium. He’s pitched to a 6.75 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in those games.
Michael Kopech making season debut
Kopech is on the Dodgers roster for the first time this season after beginning the year on the 15-day injured list because of a right shoulder impingement. That came after his offseason was impacted because of right forearm inflammation that surfaced late in the postseason.
Kopech was then transferred to the 60-day IL on May 1, along with Blake Treinen as well.
Kopech began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on May 8 and appeared in nine games over the course of three-plus weeks with the Dodgers’ top affiliate.
Results left plenty to be desired as he went 1-0 and allowed 11 runs in just 6.1 innings (15.63 ERA). While Kopech struck out 10 batters during that span, he also gave up two home runs and issued 11 walks.
Kopech was with the Dodgers at the beginning of the week to speak with pitching coaches and he wound up facing batters on Wednesday.
“I think they feel good with his delivery, came out of [Wednesday] really well and I think going forward it’s just kind of a sequence, pitch mix type of thing,” manager Dave Roberts said of the team’s analysis into Kopech’s struggles while on his rehab assignment.
“Feel good with where his stuff is at.”
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