The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Phil Bickford from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed Jimmy Nelson on the 10-day injured list with right forearm inflammation, retroactive to May 21. Nelson is the 14th player the Dodgers currently have on the IL.
He last pitched on May 20 in what was a bullpen game for the Dodgers. Nelson tossed two perfect innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, collecting five strikeouts in the process. It was a seventh consecutive scoreless appearance for the right-hander.
“With Jimmy, he’s got weapons to get both left and right out. Just hasn’t been as efficient against left this year, but [Thursday] all he did was face left-handers and a couple righties in there,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said last week.
“He really dominated them, got ahead, was efficient, really clean outing from him.”
Bickford joins the Dodgers for the first time since he was claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers at the beginning of the month. L.A. designated Mike Kickham for assignment in order to add Bickford relief to their 40-man roster, and the left-hander went on to clear waivers and be assigned to Oklahoma City.
Bickford, 25, has appeared in two Major League games in his career, allowing a combined six runs on six hits in two innings with the Brewers. He was originally selected by the San Francisco Giants in the first round (18th overall) of the 2015 Draft out of the College of Southern Nevada.
The Giants included Bickford in their trade to acquire Will Smith from the Brewers on Aug. 1, 2016.
Price, Nelson bonding
As pitchers with starting experience but being asked to fill a role out of the bullpen, David Price and Nelson have grown close in their respective second seasons with the Dodgers.
“Me and Jimmy are pretty different in a lot of ways, and I think that’s kind of why we gel so well. He’s like my therapy animal,” Price affectionately said.
“Like my therapy pet. Like the therapy dogs that you see at the hospital. They make everybody feel good, and Jimmy is a guy that makes me laugh. The stuff that he says, he needs to be mic’d up for ‘[Backstage] Dodgers.’ He has got so many one-liners.
“Every team needs a guy like Jimmy, just to lighten the mood. He’s been a lot of fun to be around and a pleasure to hang out with. I look forward to laughing at Jimmy whenever I go back in the clubhouse.”
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