LOS ANGELES — After two straight days of heavy bullpen usage, the Dodgers called up a few fresh arms ahead of their homestand opener on Monday night against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium.
Seth Halvorsen and Charlie Barnes were called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Barnes was not on the 40-man roster so Jonathan Hernández was designated for assignment — opening spots on the 40-man and active rosters — and Kyle Hurt was optioned. Hernández pitched the final two innings on Sunday’s loss in Arizona,
and Hurt pitched both Saturday and Sunday against the Diamondbacks.
“Those guys were great for us,” manager Dave Roberts said Monday of Hurt and Hernández, “but it’s just protecting the downside as far as relieving.
The fresh arm express is always ready, though if the Dodgers have their way they won’t necessarily need to use many relievers at all on Monday, with Tarik Skubal making his first start at Dodger Stadium since joining the Dodgers. Skubal is averaging 6.04 innings per start this season and has completed six innings in 12 of his 17 starts.
Skubal was pulled in a 2-1 game after only 85 pitches in six innings last Tuesday at Wrigley Field.
“His last start you could argue I could have let him go one more inning,” Roberts said Monday, “But I feel this one — we’re going to watch intently, but I feel giving him a little more leash tonight.”
The Dodgers acquired Halvorsen from the Colorado Rockies on July 20 in exchange for pitcher Nick Frasso and minor league outfielder Landyn Vidourek. Halvorsen did not allow a run in any of his six appearances for Oklahoma City, with two saves, eight strikeouts and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.
Halvorsen last pitched Thursday, with three strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning, recording a save for the Comets. That was also Barnes’ last game pitched for Oklahoma City, tossing three scoreless innings with five strikeouts on 47 pitches.
This is Barnes’ fourth stint in the majors this season, with three scoreless innings in relief for the Dodgers and one bulk appearance allowing seven runs in seven innings that was more about resetting the bullpen than anything else. Barnes twice this season has been designated for assignment, cleared waivers and elected free agency, then re-signed on a minor league deal.
