The Los Angeles Dodgers continued the roster churning with their pitching staff ahead of the series finale against the Colorado Rockies, recalling Mitch White and optioning Edwin Uceta.
White has been tabbed to start Sunday, which will be just the third of his young career. He followed an opener last time pitching for the Dodgers, and took a significant burden off the bullpen by going 7.1 innings to finish a shutout victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 18.
White deemed the performance the best of his career. “We needed a big performance out of him, and he gave us that and plenty more,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
White was optioned the following night and wound up making a start for Low-A Rancho Cucamonga five days ago. He logged 5.2 innings, allowed just two runs and collected eight strikeouts to earn a win.
Although the Dodgers have often had White follow an opener — and did so with David Price on Saturday — they did not find such strategy necessary against the Rockies. “With his pitch mix, pretty neutral versus left and right,” Roberts explained.
White is 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA, 3.93 FIP and 1.19 WHIP in 17 games (two starts) for the Dodgers this season.
Uceta is removed from the active roster one day after he was recalled. Andre Jackson was optioned as the corresponding to Uceta joining the Dodgers for a seventh time. He didn’t appear in Saturday’s win, and is 0-3 with a 6.64 ERA in 14 games (one start) for the Dodgers this season.
Dodgers’ record for pitchers
When Justin Bruihl made his MLB debut earlier this month he helped the Dodgers set a franchise record as the 32nd pitcher used this season. It broke the previous mark of 31 pitchers, shared by the 2015, 2016 and 2018 clubs.
The Dodgers have since added to their record, using 37 pitchers thus far — which includes Andy Burns’ brief appearance on the mound. Despite a rotating pitching staff, the Dodgers have fared well and so too have their hurlers.
“It’s a collective effort,” Roberts said. “When you’re going down a road like that with pitchers it usually doesn’t end well, but we’ve found a way to use it as a strength.
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