The Dodgers are placing Garrett Cleavinger on the IL with a right oblique strain, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Taking his place on the roster will be Justin Bruihl. The club had an open spot on the 40-man roster, meaning a corresponding move is not necessary.
Bruihl, an undrafted free agent out California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, is a 24-year-old lefty. He pitched 15 Double-A innings this year with an ERA of 1.20, earning himself a promotion to Triple-A. In 22 2/3 innings there, he has an ERA of 3.57. He has excellent strikeout and walk rates at both levels.
For Cleavinger, this is yet another bounce in a season full of them. He’s been optioned four times and this will be his second IL stint. In 18 MLB innings this year, he has an ERA of 3.o0, with a decent strikeout rate of 25%, but an elevated walk rate of 14.3%.
In other Dodgers news, Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times reports that Gavin Lux is about to begin a rehab assignment and that Corey Knebel is expected to be activated Tuesday. Lux has been out since mid-July with a hamstring injury. There might not be much room for him in the middle infield once he’s healthy, given that Corey Seager is back and has been joined by newly-acquired Trea Turner. In 313 plate appearances this year, Lux has a slash line of .227/.307/.349, for a wRC+ of 83.
The return of Knebel will be most welcome, since the Dodgers bullpen has been weathering a slew of injuries lately. The righty has only thrown six innings this year on account of a lat strain but can be a potent weapon when healthy. From 2015 to 2018, he threw 214 1/3 innings out of Milwaukee’s ’pen, with an ERA of 3.02 and a massive strikeout rate of 35%. But health has been the big issue in recent years, as he’s only thrown 19 1/3 innings since that time due to various injuries.
DarkSide830
OKC wolnt have a RP left soon
Fever Pitch Guy
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Chief Two Hands
Save it for Sunday school and stop liking your own comments.
birdsfan415
3.o0
Dusty Baker's tooth pick.
It’s the new cool way of saying 3.00. All the cool kids are doing it.
The Baseball Fan
Why do they keep optioning Cleavinger? Seems to be better than half of that bullpen
DarkSide830
arm cycling
paddyo furnichuh
He wasn’t optioned this time.
RunsWithScissors
Name half the bullpen who is worse Tha Cleavinger.
BlueSkies_LA
His time in the majors is likely to be brief, but Bruihl.
BTW, it’s Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. No dash.
paddyo furnichuh
Does he have a SLO changeup-maybe.
Steinbrenner2728
Eric Gagne: CP, SLO vulcan changeup in the mid-80s.
tribepride17
I’m sick of the Dodgers abusing the injured list.
BeforeMcCourt
Why would they IL one of their better relievers just to manipulate the roster? There’s plenty of worse guys who could have gotten a phantom injury before Clev. Maybe, just maybe.. he’s actually hurt….
tribepride17
He probably is injured but I’m just sick of seeing them IL someone every three days.
BlueSkies_LA
Weird post of the day contest winner.
haringbone
Because it’s so bothersome? Get a life man.