The series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets is widely considered a potential playoff preview, but manager Dave Roberts navigated the opening matchup at Citi Field like it was anything but that.
In the bullpen, the Dodgers were limited to using just four arms, including two who were just added to the active roster prior to the game in Jake Reed and Heath Hembree. The Dodgers’ fifth reliever would have been Hanser Alberto if the situation required another arm out of the bullpen.
While Hembree and Reed have not found much success in the Majors this season, both played important roles in the Dodgers’ victory. Hembree earned the win with a scoreless sixth inning and Reed picked up the save with a scoreless ninth in the 4-3 game.
After picking up his first career save, Reed expressed how happy he is to be back with the team and appreciated that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts trusted him in that spot, via SportsNet LA:
“Just an incredible game to be part of. Super thankful to be back here in LA and have trust to be given the ball in that opportunity. It just means a lot. Just kind of a crazy, full circle thing being back here in New York. Just an awesome game. Just thankful to be part of it. …”
Reed opened the season with the Mets before he was designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Dodgers, which surely added to the emotion of his first save. The 29-year-old appeared in five games for New York and struggled to the tune of an 11.37 ERA, 8.64 FIP and 1.58 WHIP.
Although Reed has yet to produce much at the Major League level, he was effective in 10 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, posting an 0.87 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
Miguel Vargas joining Dodgers taxi squad
Rosters are set to expand to 28 players, up from 26, on Thursday, Sept. 1, when the Dodgers conclude their series with the Mets. Teams will be permitted to carry 14 pitchers, an increase of one extra from the current 13-pitcher limit, but the Dodgers also will have to add a position player.
Although Edwin Ríos and James Outman were options to be called up, Miguel Vargas was pulled from his start with OKC and he is heading to New York to join the Dodgers taxi squad before he is recalled when rosters expand.
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