Rosscup goes on DL; Baez returns
PHILADELPHIA — Weary after 16 innings of baseball Tuesday night, the Dodgers accelerated Pedro Baez’s return from the disabled list and flew him to meet the team at Citizens Bank Park. The team had initially planned to activate Baez on Thursday in Atlanta, but after using eight pitchers, and Enrique Hernandez, on Tuesday, the organization felt compelled to bring Baez back a day sooner.
The Dodgers made roster moves to make room for Baez and Walker Buehler, who was recalled from the minors to start. The team optioned reliever Dylan Floro to triple-A Oklahoma City and put reliever Zac Rosscup on the 10-day disabled list because of inflammation in his left middle finger.
Floro had a 3.68 earnedrun average in seven appearances since the Dodgers acquired him July 4 and logged 21⁄3 innings Tuesday. Manager Dave Roberts referred to Floro as “a casualty of last night.”
“He’s thrown very well for us,” Roberts said. “But that, unfortunately, had to be the move.”
Rosscup sat out for a significant period at the start of the year because of a finger blister. It is unclear if the current inflammation was related to the previous injury, which occurred while Rosscup was in the Colorado Rockies organization.
Next step uncertain for Stripling
Roberts was willing to reveal his rotation for the first three games of the series this weekend in Atlanta: Rich Hill on Thursday, Clayton Kershaw on Friday and Alex Wood on Saturday. The starter for Sunday had not been determined, even though All-Star Ross Stripling would be in line for that opportunity.
Stripling gave up five runs in 42⁄3 innings Monday, getting burned with two home runs in his final inning. Roberts mentioned afterward that Stripling had lacked his usual “crispness” in July. The team is juggling six pitchers in the rotation, with Buehler back on the roster.
“We have six guys now,” Roberts said. “The question is how long do we go with six guys? Do guys need an extra day, two times through? Probably not. Could it work? Yeah.
“Trying to look at each individual guy, and see if we want Ross to make that start. Do we want Kenta [Maeda] to go on regular rest? What role would Ross play, if we don’t start him, to curtail a few innings? We don’t need to make that decision right now, but these are good options for us.”
Ceremony in August to honor Ethier
Former Dodger Andre Ethier will be honored with a retirement ceremony Aug. 3 before the Dodgers host the Houston Astros at 7 p.m..
“I look forward to coming back to Los Angeles and Dodger Stadium, places I’m so lucky to have called home for the last 12 years,” Ethier said. “There’s nothing like stepping out on the field at Dodger Stadium and looking up and seeing the faithful Dodger Blue supporting you, and I’m grateful for the reception and support I received in all my years playing there.
“I’m humbled by this evening and look forward to sharing it all with you.”