The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Evan Phillips off the 10-day injured list and optioned Mitch White ahead of their series opener against the Atlanta Braves.
White started Sunday but was only able to log 3.1 innings and was tabbed with the loss due to surrendering a three-run home run to C.J. Cron. That was all the right-hander allowed to the Colorado Rockies and he did finish with six strikeouts.
While the Rockies eventually added to their lead, the home run White allowed in the first inning was too much for the Dodgers to overcome in their 5-0 loss.
“I think if we execute that pitch up and in, we don’t have any problems,” White said after the game. “It just leaked over the middle and he put a good swing on it. The slider was definitely an option, especially in the second at-bat I faced him, we threw all sliders and that worked.
“You can second-guess everything. It just comes down to execution.”
White is 1-2 with a 3.49 ERA in 18 games (three starts) with L.A. this season.
Phillips returns after being sidelined since Aug. 20 due to a right quad strain. He was claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays but only managed to appear in one game prior to suffering the lower-body injury.
Phillips turned in 2.1 innings and earned a win against the New York Mets the night before his IL stint began.
On the year he is a combined 1-0 with one save and a 3.38 ERA in two Major League games. White has spent parts of four seasons in the Majors with the Atlanta Braves (2018), Baltimore Orioles (2018-2020), Rays (2021) and Dodgers, going 2-3 with a 7.13 ERA over that span.
Dodgers roster churning
When White was recalled for his start it marked a seventh time being up with the club this season. He replaced Edwin Uceta on the active roster, with the right-hander also having been part of seven stints in the Majors this year.
“I think a lot of their conversations — to their credit — have been, it’s not performance-driven. It’s managing the roster and what we need for that day and the days coming,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained.
“So I think in that sense they understand it and see what’s happened this year. Having options is part of it. That’s part of the flexibility of an optional player on your roster. I think the frustration of having to go up and down, where you want to stick, is real.
“I understand that and am very sympathetic towards that. I think the main thing is the guys we’ve had up here who have gone up and down, have performed well and are helping and have helped us win a championship.”
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