LOS ANGELES — The bill for heavy bullpen usage for three straight games has come due for the Dodgers. Wyatt Mills got the call from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday to provide a fresh arm, and Paul Gervase was optioned to the minors one day after his yeoman’s effort on Saturday night against the Atlanta Braves.
Tyler Glasnow leaving his Wednesday start with back spasms after only one inning in Houston set off a series of events that continue to reverberate. The Dodgers used six relievers to cover
the final eight innings of that game, then Blake Snell was returned from his rehab assignment one start early to cover for Glasnow’s absence in the rotation. Snell labored with 77 pitches through three innings on Saturday, necessitating another long night of relief.
In all, Dodgers relievers have pitched 18 1/3 innings over the previous three games and four days. That included Gervase pitching a major-league career-high three innings to finish off Saturday night’s 7-2 loss. Gervase threw 50 pitches, two shy of his professional career high set on June 4, 2023 with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones. Three innings was his longest outing since August 13, 2023, also with Brooklyn, in which his 3 1/3 innings tied his professional career high.
“Obviously we’ve got Wrobo [starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski] going tomorrow, and we’re going to have to lean on him. There’s a few guys I feel really good about tomorrow being available,” manager Dave Roberts said on Saturday night. “We’ll probably make another move to get another arm, for more coverage.”
Gervase, who was called up Friday when Glasnow was placed on the injured list, now heads back to Oklahoma City, replaced in the Dodgers bullpen by Wyatt Mills.
The 31-year-old Mills was a non-roster invitee in camp during spring training, and in 14 appearances for Oklahoma City had a 3.26 ERA and 36.4-percent strikeout rate with 28 strikeouts and seven walks in his 19 1/3 innings.
Mills last pitched on Thursday, throwing eight pitches in his one-third of an inning, with one walk. He’s pitched more than one inning in nine of his 14 games with the Comets, including five appearances going exactly two innings.
If Mills gets into a game for the Dodgers, it would be his first major league appearance since September 3, 2022 for the Kansas City Royals. Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2023 and 2024 seasons, and Mills spent 2025 in Triple-A Worcester in the Boston Red Sox system.
To make room for Mills on the 40-man roster, closer Edwin Díaz was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Díaz had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow on April 22, and is expected to be out until after the All-Star break.
