The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Adam Liberatore from the 15-day disabled list and optioned Casey Fien to Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Friday’s series opener against the Cincinnati Reds.
Liberatore, who joined the club on the road trip Wednesday, was put on the DL on Aug. 3 (retroactive to July 30) with left elbow inflammation. It was revealed soon after that the 29-year-old pitched with left elbow trouble since June.
That made Liberatore setting a Dodgers franchise record with 28 consecutive scoreless appearances all the more impressive.
His string of scoreless appearances came to an end July 24 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. That was also the same night Liberatore tweaked his right knee which rendered him unavailable for two games.
He owns a 1.62 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in a career-high 44 games. Liberatore joined High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday for the start of a rehab assignment, allowing two runs on three hits in one inning of relief.
He then tossed a scoreless frame with two strikeouts for Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Fien returns to OKC after being activated from the disabled list on Tuesday. He had been out since July 19 with tendinitis in his right elbow.
In sending Fien down, the Dodgers have three left-handers in their bullpen. J.P. Howell and Liberatore have been mainstays for much of the season, while Grant Dayton has made the most of recent opportunities.
Also on Friday, the Dodgers activated Bud Norris and optioned Ross Stripling to Oklahoma City.
