The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Luke Raley and optioned Darien Nuñez to Triple-A Oklahoma City ahead of Saturday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
Raley gives the Dodgers much-needed depth on the position player front as Mookie Betts (right hip irritation) and Cody Bellinger (left hamstring tightness) are dealing with injury, Corey Seager has not yet returned and Max Muncy is on the second of three-day paternity leave.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remains hopeful Bellinger will be in the lineup for the series finale against the Rockies. Betts isn’t expected to start until Tuesday, when the Dodgers begin a three-game set with the San Francisco Giants.
Raley, who now is in a fifth stint with the team, is starting in left field and batting eighth. He’s struggled in sporadic opportunities at the Major League level thus far, batting just .180 with one double, one home run and two RBI.
As for Nuñez, he returns to Oklahoma City one night after re-joining the team. The southpaw had previously been optioned on Wednesday and was eligible to return before the usual period of 15 days because Muncy went on the paternity list.
Nuñez allowed one run on two hits over 1.1 innings in Friday’s loss to the Rockies. He’s allowed five earned runs in 7.1 innings and appeared in five games with L.A. this season.
Dodgers waiting on Seager
While the Dodgers are hopeful Bellinger and Betts will be back in the lineup in the coming days, an activation for Seager isn’t quite as clear. He’s next scheduled to report to Camelback Ranch for a second time to participate in games as a potential final checkpoint.
Roberts had previously suggested it was plausible Seager would come off the 60-day injured list at some point during the Giants series earlier in the week.
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