The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs were afforded the option to add a 27th player to their respective active rosters for Tuesday’s split doubleheader at Wrigley Field, and both teams elected to use that for the nightcap.
Despite Clayton Kershaw only going one inning in the shortest start of his career, the Dodgers elected to add a position player in Luke Raley. Coupled with Keibert Ruiz getting recalled earlier in the day, the Dodgers temporarily have a six-man bench.
Of course, Raley will be removed from the active roster once the doubleheader is completed. How long Ruiz remains with the Dodgers is undecided. “Right now we’re in the mode of day to day and we’ll see how it goes,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ruiz.
“Things can happen, things can change all the time. So I don’t want to put too much expectations on or for Keibert. We’ll kind of see how it plays out.”
Ruiz made a pinch-hit appearance in the first game and hit a home run on Kyle Hendricks’ first offering, preventing the Dodgers from being shut out for the first time this season.
As for Raley, he is back with the team for a second time. He was originally recalled on April 9 as the corresponding move to Cody Bellinger being placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left calf contusion that has since been diagnosed as a hairline fracture in the fibula.
Raley made his MLB debut in the Dodgers’ home opener and has appeared in 14 games so far this season. He memorably hit a home run against the San Diego Padres to help L.A. get a win at Petco Park.
“It’s exciting. You have a rush the whole time, and it’s something I look forward to being a part of more,” Raley said of the moment. The 26-year-old has otherwise struggled during his first big league experience, batting .206/.308/.324 with one double, one home run, one RBI, two walks and 12 strikeouts.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
CF: Chris Taylor
C: Will Smith
1B: Max Muncy
LF: AJ Pollock
3B: Edwin Rios
2B: Gavin Lux
P: Trevor Bauer
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