The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Victor Gonzalez from the 10-day injured list and optioned Mitch White to Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to their series opener against the New York Mets.
Gonzalez is back after being sidelined Aug. 6 due to right knee inflammation. He started one game on a rehab assignment for Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, allowing three runs and recording just one out.
“I think he pitched better than the line score. Feels good, which is most important,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the southpaw.
The IL stint was the second of the season for Gonzalez, who previously missed nearly two weeks in July because of left plantar fasciitis.
The injuries are presumed to have played a part in Gonzalez not being able to replicate his success from last season. He’s 3-1 with a 3.82 ERA over 42 games and regularly struggled with command that was pinpoint last year.
Gonzalez joins a Dodgers bullpen that will need to shoulder a significant load Thursday in support of Corey Knebel as an opener. The unit was left in good standing thanks to White logging a career-high 7.1 innings to help complete a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Dodgers undecided on role for White
After Justin Bruihl worked as an opener for the second time in three days, White took the burden off a Dodgers bullpen that’s been taxed of late. Although an impressive performance, Roberts stopped short of naming White part of the starting rotation.
“I will say that Mitch has done everything he can do to make a case to show that he’s worthy of consideration,” Roberts said shortly before the roster moves.
“With off days and how we’re managing our bullpen, there’s still some gymnastics that will be done. All I can say is Mitch has really shown well and we think a lot of him. He helped us win a ballgame [Wednesday] night, which is going to help us win [Thursday] as far as how he saved other guys.”
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