The Los Angeles Dodgers steadily are making progress toward getting close to full strength, which started with activating Cody Bellinger and Zach McKinstry off the 10-day injured list during the weekend.
Another wave or two of reinforcements may soon arrive in the form of Scott Alexander, Garrett Cleavinger, Brusdar Graterol, Jimmy Nelson and AJ Pollock. Each of the aforementioned pitchers has been throwing, and Alexander and Cleavinger are close to joining a Minor League affiliate.
“They’re both in Arizona. Cleav just threw a ‘pen, was good. At some point they’re going to get on assignment,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “They’re not there yet, but I think Cleav is a little bit ahead of Scottie, to my understanding.”
Alexander has been on the IL since May 6 due to left shoulder inflammation. The Dodgers initially expected a relatively quick recovery, but the southpaw was slow to begin a throwing program.
Cleavinger landed on the IL on May 18 because of left forearm inflammation. Roberts recently suggested the injury would not be something that kept him out for a prolonged stretch.
Nelson to face batters
Nelson threw a bullpen session on Saturday, which by all accounts went well. “So I would say the next step is for him to face hitters — my guess is probably Tuesday,” Roberts said.
“We’ll see how he responds to then kind of make a decision, call it Thursday or Friday.”
Pollock with Quakes
After testing his left hamstring strain by running bases and hitting before games at Dodger Stadium, Pollock joined Low-A Rancho Cucamonga for a rehab assignment. He started in left field played five innings on Saturday and took three at-bats as the designated hitter Sunday.
Pollock is expected to play a third game with the Quakes when their schedule resumes Tuesday, and could travel with the Dodgers to then come off the IL this weekend.
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