A bullpen refresh was inevitable heading into the Dodgers series finale against the Angels in Anaheim, after using eight pitchers to cover all nine innings on Friday. But there’s also another injury afoot, with Jack Dreyer placed on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder discomfort.
The Dodgers called up both Chayce McDermott, who was with the team since Saturday, and Paul Gervase from Triple-A Oklahoma City while left-hander Charlie Barnes was optioned after pitching on both Friday and Saturday.
Gervase was optioned last Sunday, one day after pitching the final three innings of a Dodgers’ loss to the Atlanta Braves. Replacing Dreyer on the injured list is how Gervase is allowed to return before his 15 days on optional assignment is up.
Blake Snell getting scratched from his Friday start and placed on the injured list with loose bodies in his left elbow set a few things in motion. For one, Snell is going to have surgery on Tuesday and is expected to miss a few months. The Dodgers also used a bullpen game in the series opener at Angel Stadium. Dreyer’s injury further complicates things.
Dreyer was in a secure, lofty perch in manager Dave Roberts’ trust tree in the Dodgers bullpen, tied for the team lead with 20 appearances this season. The left-hander, who last year joined Yoshinobu Yamamoto as the only Dodgers pitchers to remain on the active roster all regular season and postseason, this year has a 2.08 ERA and 2.73 xERA in a bullpen-leading 21 2/3 innings, with 24 strikeouts against only six walks.
He last pitched on Friday, with two strikeouts and a walk in a scoreless eighth inning. This is Dreyer’s first career injured-list stint in either the majors or minors.
McDermott was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on April 16 for minor league pitcher Axel Perez. Between Norfolk and Oklahoma City combined, McDermott in Triple-A this season has a 5.27 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 14 walks in 13 2/3 innings, with no home runs allowed.
McDermott hasn’t pitched since Tuesday, when he tossed a scoreless inning for the Comets on 12 pitches. Gervase last pitched on Thursday for Oklahoma City, with three runs allowed in 1 2/3 innings and 33 pitches.
Barnes was recalled from Oklahoma City on Friday when Snell was placed on the IL, and he pitched in both games for which he was active, tossing scoreless ninth innings to close out a blowout win on both Friday and Saturday night.
