The Los Angeles Dodgers swapped a pair of pitchers with Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, recalling Ryan Pepiot and optioning Reyes Moronta.
Pepiot was named the club’s starting pitcher for Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
“I think the driver was looking at a lot of our starters going on regular (rest) multiple times,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “So to kind of drop him in gives everyone an extra day. He’s been throwing the baseball well. So have him going today, then we’ll have Mitch (White) going tomorrow.”
The right-hander is one of the Dodgers’ top pitching prospects and has made three previous starts at the Major League level this season. In 11.1 innings, he has posted a 3.18 ERA and struck out 25% of hitters, but he also owns a 5.41 FIP thanks in part to a 21.2% walk rate.
All three of Pepiot’s starts came in May and he was most effective in his final one, turning in 4.1 innings with just one run allowed against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After that start, Pepiot said he was gaining confidence and becoming more comfortable at the Major League level.
With Triple-A Oklahoma City, the 24-year-old has thrown 55.2 innings with a 1.94 ERA, which is backed by striking out more than 12 hitters per nine innings, but he has still struggled with his command, walking four per nine and raising his FIP to 4.01.
Moronta has been mostly effective when the Dodgers called upon him, but after giving up a home run and two singles on Monday, he was the odd-man-out in the bullpen. In 14.2 innings, the right-hander has posted a 3.68 ERA while striking out 25% of hitters and walking 6.7%.
It would be surprising if Moronta is not back with the club at some point this season.
Chris Taylor underwent CT scan
The Dodgers got back in the win column on Monday night, but injury concern remains with Chris Taylor after he was removed in the sixth inning.
Taylor had previously missed the series finale against the San Diego Padres due to a left foot contusion. “He tried to run the bases there and it just kind of flared up on him. He’s going to get a CT scan and we’ll see where we’re at,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday.
“If Chris has got to come out of the game, you know it’s something that’s pretty significant. So my assumption is he’ll be down a couple days and then we’ll sort of re-evaluate.”
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