The Dodgers activated their second player off the injured list in this series against the Rockies, on Tuesday welcoming back left-hander Alex Vesia into the bullpen.
Vesia is a rare case of missing close to the minimum time on the injured list with an oblique injury, as his first day eligible to be activated was Sunday. Vesia with Oklahoma City on his rehab assignment pitched two perfect innings, with one strikeouts on Wednesday and two on Friday night at Sugar Land in Texas.
Vesia on the season has
a 2.75 ERA and 3.04 xERA in his 52 1/3 innings with four saves. He’s tied for second on the team with 59 appearances, and his 33-percent strikeout rate is highest on the team among anyone with at least five innings this season.
The only two Dodgers relievers with a higher average leverage index than Vesia (1.539) are Tanner Scott (1.891) and Blake Treinen (1.849). Getting Vesia back adds another high-leverage reliever into manager Dave Roberts’ trust tree.
Max Muncy was the first to be activated off the IL, on Monday, and Tommy Edman could join the reunion if he gets activated on Wednesday.
Ben Casparius was the odd man out with Vesia’s return, optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. With a full six-man rotation and other relievers coming back from the injured list, Casparius has been limited to just 10 innings over the Dodgers’ last 29 games.
On the season, Casparius has a 4.64 ERA and 3.57 xERA with 71 strikeouts 21 walks in 77 2/3 innings.
