The Dodgers activated right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol from the 60-day injured checklist forward of tonight’s recreation towards the Phillies, the workforce introduced. To make room on the lively roster, the membership positioned fellow right-handed reliever Blake Treinen on the 15-day IL with left hip discomfort. The Dodgers already had an open spot for Graterol on their 40-man roster.
Graterol and Treinen each wound up on the IL in spring coaching, however whereas Treinen returned to the sector in Could, Graterol has been out all yr. His damage was initially described as hip tightness and irritation in his throwing shoulder, however seemingly, the shoulder subject was the larger drawback. He began throwing off a mound once more in early April, however the Dodgers shut down his throwing drawback a couple of weeks later as a result of his arm wasn’t bouncing again in addition to they may have hoped. After that, the workforce appears to have determined to take issues notably gradual with the younger flamethrower. Graterol began throwing bullpen periods in mid-June and started his minor league rehab project in mid-July. After eight rehab appearances, he’s again in Dodgers blue for the primary time this season.
After coming over from the Twins in 2020 as a part of the bundle for Kenta Maeda, Graterol slowly turned a key participant within the Dodgers’ bullpen. He was an particularly essential piece for supervisor Dave Roberts from 2022-23, pitching to a 2.08 ERA and three.06 SIERA in 114 video games. Typically serving as a set-up man for closers Craig Kimbrel and Evan Phillips, he led the workforce with 29 holds and ranked second amongst Dodgers relievers in Win Likelihood Added over these two years. Throughout his 4 seasons with the Dodgers, he has additionally made 21 appearances within the playoffs, pitching to a 1.71 ERA and a couple of.52 FIP.
Nonetheless simply 25 years outdated, Graterol is making $2.7MM this season in his first yr of arbitration eligibility. He’s set to achieve free company following the 2026 marketing campaign.
Treinen, 36, had been having fun with a triumphant comeback marketing campaign after lacking a lot of the 2022 and ’23 seasons with a shoulder damage. In 34 appearances, the righty has pitched to a 2.67 ERA and a 2.81 SIERA. His fastball velocity is down about three miles per hour, however his 30.6% strikeout charge is the very best it’s been since his All-Star season in 2018. That has loads to do along with his slider, which has been the most effective whiff-inducing pitches in baseball this season. Thus, Roberts has given Treinen the ball in loads of high-leverage spots; no Dodgers pitcher has a better common leverage index when coming into video games in 2024 (per FanGraphs).
It’s unclear how critical Treinen’s damage is or how a lot time he’ll miss. Nevertheless, if Graterol picks up the place he left off in 2023, the Dodgers may have no hassle changing Treinen’s manufacturing on the again finish of the bullpen. What’s extra, right-hander Michael Grove can also be nearing his return from the injured checklist, which is able to give L.A. one other right-handed choice for the bullpen.
