Ryan Yarbrough is back with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the start of a weekend road series against the Seattle Mariners. He missed all three games against the San Diego Padres to be with his wife as the couple recently welcomed the birth of their second child.
However, the Dodgers did not put Yarbrough on the paternity list and instead were a player short during the National League West matchup.
Yarbrough’s wife gave birth on September 8, which came on the heels of the Dodgers completing a series against the Miami Marlins. Yarbrough remained in Miami before joining the Dodgers in the nation’s capital for a start in the finale of the three-game series with the Washington Nationals.
The expectation was Yarbrough would then be placed paternity leave as the corresponding move to the Dodgers recalling Gavin Stone for his start at the beginning of the week. Instead, Wander Suero was put on the 15-day injured list with lower back tightness.
Per MLB roster rules, a player going on the paternity list must take place if child delivery or adoption is imminent or has occurred within the prior 48 hours.
“It wasn’t from lack of effort,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answered when asked why Yarbrough was not put on the paternity list.
“It just didn’t work out. Having the one player short, having Yarbs at home with his family, we’re good with that. That’s OK.”
Had Yarbrough gone on paternity leave Monday, he would have been required to be away from the tea for a minimum of one day but no more than three.
He now rejoins the Dodgers on four days’ rest and likely to factor into one of the games against the Mariners this weekend.
Yarbrough is 3-1 with a 3.08 ERA, 3.75 FIP and 0.91 WHIP in eight games (one start) since being traded to the Dodgers at the deadline.
Dodgers leveraging Ryan Yarbrough’s versatility
At the time of acquiring Yarbrough from the Kansas City Royals, Roberts said the Dodgers would be open to utilizing him as both a starter and relief pitcher.
When Tony Gonsolin was ruled out from returning in 2023 because of Tommy John surgery, Yarbrough was named among the candidates to replace him in the starting rotation. However, Roberts noted the Dodgers value Yarbrough’s ability to pitch multiple games out of the bullpen each week.
The 31-year-old figures to remain in a swingman role as part of what’s expected to an unconventional pitching staff for the Dodgers’ postseason roster.
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