Before Friday’s game against the Rockies, the Dodgers activated closer Evan Phillips off the injured list. The right-hander had missed 24 games due to a right hamstring injury.
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During a minor league rehab assignment with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, Phillips threw two innings and struck out three batters while retiring all five batters he faced. Phillips received two outs on Tuesday in Lake Elsinore after pitching an inning on Sunday in Rancho Cucamonga.
has a pitiful 0.66 ERA and 2.39 xERA in 14 games this season. In 13⅔ innings, he has struck out 17 batters and given up four walks.
He has also converted all eight of his save opportunities. Since the Dodgers claimed Phillips off waivers from Tampa Bay in August 2021, he has established himself as one of the top relievers in baseball.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Phillips has struck out 29.8 percent of batters he has faced and leads all major league pitchers with a 1.64 ERA (minimum 100 innings). He also ranks sixth with a 2.49 FIP.
With a bullpen that has persevered through injuries this season, the Dodgers now have their closer back. Joe Kelly hurt his shoulder, while Ryan Brasier strained his calf.
Both have been out for around a month. Due to discomfort in his shoulder, Brusdar Graterol has not pitched this season and is on the injured list.
The Dodgers bullpen held its own following Phillips’ last outing on May 3, with a 2.63 ERA and a 24.4 percent strikeout rate. A total of four pitchers, including two apiece from Daniel Hudson and Alex Vesia, have recorded saves.
Elieser Hernández was chosen for assignment so Phillips might have space on the squad. On May 15, Hernández made a spot start in San Francisco and was successful despite giving up three runs in six innings during a Giants game.
In the past two weeks, the seasoned right-hander has stayed in the bullpen, primarily doing mop-up work, but he was prone to home runs, giving up four long balls in his four relief appearances and surrendering six runs in three and a half innings.
In the victory on Wednesday in New York, Hernández faced three batters without recording an out while giving up three runs.
Hernández pitched nine and a half innings for the Dodgers, giving up three walks and six strikeouts in an overall 8.38 ERA. Despite having pitched the fifteenth most innings, his five home runs surrendered are equal for fourth most on the squad.
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