Ahead of Giants series, Dodgers alter rotation
The Dodgers are sending right-handers Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling to the bullpen to make room for two starters about to return from the disabled list ahead of a threegame series against the Giants at Dodger Stadium.
Left-hander Alex Wood is scheduled to come off the disabled list and pitch Tuesday against San Francisco. He went on the DL on Aug. 4 with adductor tendinitis. Lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu is healed from a strained groin that has sidelined him since early May. Ryu is expected to be activated and start Wednesday.
Monday’s marquee matchup — Madison Bumgarner against Clayton Kershaw — was set.
Stripling will be ready for bullpen action Tuesday and Maeda on Wednesday.
Manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers have seven quality starters and that two must go to the bullpen, calling the situation “high-class problems.”
The Dodgers are using a closer-by-committee approach in the bullpen with Kenley Jansen sidelined because of an irregular heartbeat.
Roberts said he broke the news to Stripling (8-3, 2.62 ERA) on Saturday night and Maeda (7-7, 3.80 ERA) on Sunday morning. The manager praised both players for their “unselfishness.”
“The waiting game part of it kind of stinks, as far as not knowing exactly when you’ll throw beyond that,” Stripling said. “But we had a meeting with the seven starters, and they said, ‘This kind of stuff is going to happen, so hang with us, and we’ll communicate the best we can,’ which is what they did.”
Arenado out again: The Rockies held out All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado for a second straight start because of a sore right shoulder, but he figures to play Tuesday.
The Rockies said Arenado was close to playing Sunday, but the team decided to give him another day of rest his sore shoulder. Colorado has an off day Monday before playing in Houston, where Arenado could play third or be the designated hitter.
Arenado is hitting .306 with 29 home runs and 82 RBIs this season. Long road back begins: Mets third baseman David Wright played his first game in almost a year Sunday, going 0-for-3 on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.
Wright struck out twice and flied out for St. Lucie in the Class A Florida State League. The seven-time All-Star played five innings in the field and didn’t get a grounder during a 4-1 loss to Clearwater.
Wright, 35, has been beset by back, neck and shoulder trouble in recent seasons. His last game in the major leagues was May 27, 2016 — he had a brief stint in the minors last August before being shut down. Briefly: St. Louis pitcher Luke Weaver cut his finger while opening a food tray in the clubhouse at Kansas City and was scratched from his scheduled Sunday start against the Royals . ... Cleveland designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right hand contusion and some swelling in his left biceps. Yandy Diaz was promoted from the minors . ... X-rays were negative for Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer (right ankle), who was sore after being struck by a line drive in his start Saturday . ... Astros manager A.J. Hinch said outfielder Jake Marisnick, who went on the DL with a groin injury Saturday, is expected to be out several weeks.