The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Victor Gonzalez from the 10-day injured list and optioned Jake Reed to Triple-A Oklahoma City ahead of the series opener against the San Francisco Giants.
Manager Dave Roberts said on Sunday the Dodgers would swap relief pitchers in order to add a fresh arm to their bullpen, and indicated Gonzalez was a likely addition after he appeared in one rehab game for Low-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Gonzalez had been on the IL since July 6 due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Gonzalez struck out two of three batters faced in his lone appearance for the Quakes. “It was a good day,” Roberts said of the appearance. “Certainly, the one [Friday] was really encouraging.”
On the season Gonzalez is 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 36 games (one start). Last year he issued just two walks in 20.1 innings pitched, but has seen a spike this season to 15 free passes handed over 28 innings thus far.
“I think command hasn’t been consistent,” Roberts noted earlier this month. “Command isn’t what it has been, certainly last year, so I think that’s kind of what it is. … He doesn’t physically look tired.
“There’s still the characteristics and velocity to the fastball. I do think there’s something to the fact that the command isn’t there. There’s been one lefty (on the Dodgers’ active roster) at times this year, so we have gone to him a lot.
“Relative to other left-handed relievers, I think he’s right there in the middle, but yeah, we go to him.”
Reed’s brief time with Dodgers
The Dodgers called up Reed on the same day Gonzalez landed on the IL, and the right-hander made his MLB debut that night followed by a first career start as an opener the next day.
Reed allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in 5.1 innings pitched across six games with the Dodgers. One of his recent appearances was part of a string of former University of Oregon appearing out of the bullpen.
After Garrett Cleavinger appeared in the seventh inning last Friday, Reed and Jimmie Sherfy combined to finish the game out. It marked the first time all three pitched in the same game since doing so for the Ducks in 2013.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and more!
