The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Mitch White and optioned Dennis Santana to Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Thursday’s series opener against the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers still have 14 pitchers on their active roster, including 10 relievers, but White gives the team a fresh arm for another bullpen game. “It’s certainly not ideal to run this formula out for four or five turns potentially,” manager Dave Roberts said.
“I think the main thing is the pitchers involved are all-in and understand what’s best for our ballclub. That just makes my job, Mark’s job, much easier.”
White has been recalled for a third time this season and thus far has yet to earn a decision while pitching to a 1.17 ERA in six games. He’s struggled at times with command and stranding inherited baserunners.
White allowed two runs in four innings over three appearances for Oklahoma City after being optioned as the corresponding move to David Price returning from the 10-day injured list on May 17. Price is serving as the Dodgers’ opener on Thursday night.
Santana has a 6.00 ERA in 16 games for the Dodgers. He lost out to Scott Alexander for a spot on the Opening Day roster but joined the team within the first few days of the season due to Tony Gonsolin going on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.
Treinen credits Dodgers coaches
The notion that the group of relief pitchers are fully on board with whatever the Dodgers coaching staff asks was echoed by Blake Treinen. “I think our organization does a great job game planning. It’s not like we’re just running into a bullpen game and going on a whim on who’s going to go in to face who,” he said.
“I think they have perfect scenarios, and in a perfect world you know who you’re facing the whole way through. We’re facing a really good big league team, so people are going to get hits. Even on the best days, runs get scored and entire situations present themselves, so you have to bob and weave a little bit with different matchups to get through maybe a tighter situation early. Or things roll smoothly and everybody faces who they’re supposed to.
“I think yes, people are going to know who they’re going to face at some point in the game. The inning is kind of determined whether there’s a few base hits sprinkled in there, what part of the lineup you’re facing.”
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