While the Los Angeles Dodgers have recently welcomed back the likes of Cody Bellinger, Zach Mckinstry, AJ Pollock and Jimmy Nelson, multiple relief pitchers — including Garrett Cleavinger — remain on the 10-day injured list.
The southpaw had been at Camelback Ranch while recovering from left forearm inflammation, but joined Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday to begin a rehab assignment. Cleavinger was put on the IL on May 18.
He appeared in the second game of Oklahoma City’s doubleheader, which was a makeup of last Saturday’s contest that was postponed due to rain. Cleavinger issued a walk, recorded one strikeout and faced the minimum in his lone inning of work.
OKC suffered a 3-2 loss and split their doubleheader action against the Sugar Land Skeeters (Houston Astros affiliate).
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated just over one week ago that Cleavinger was close to joining a Minor League affiliate on rehab and suggested Scott Alexander would at some point as well.
“They’re not there yet, but I think Cleav is a little bit ahead of Scottie, to my understanding,” Roberts said at the time.
Alexander has been out since May 6 (retroactive to May 3) because of left shoulder inflammation. Neither Alexander or Cleavinger were initially expected to spend much time on the IL, but both players progressed slowly in their respective recoveries.
Dodgers option Graterol
Brusdar Graterol recently was on a rehab assignment with Oklahoma City as well, though technically only for two appearances. The Dodgers then activated the 22-year-old and immediately optioned him to OKC.
“Brusdar was obviously a huge part of what we did last year. He is going to be a huge part of we’re going to do this year,” Roberts said.
“We just feel right now, where he’s at, it’s a finishing school. The arm is healthy, the ball is coming out but the slider is not as consistent as it needs to be to get Major League hitters out consistently. And the sinker is not commanded the way it needs to be.
“So I think that the option just allows for him to have a clear path to go out there and pitch regularly, get the sinker down in the zone and continue to work on that slider. When he does that, I expect to see him.”
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