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Dodgers appear ready to activate Brian Wilson this weekend

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Brian Wilson is coming, Brian Wilson is coming!

When exactly, the Dodgers weren’t ready to say. Don Mattingly tap-danced like Gregory Hines when asked what was next for the reliever.

He’s ready or not ready? Will he make his next appearance in the minors or be called up? He could join the team on the coming seven-game road trip or not?

“When we bring him up, we’ll let you know,” Mattingly said, suddenly just a fountain of information.

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So he’s not ready?

“I didn’t say he wasn’t ready,” Mattingly said.

The former Giants closer has appeared in four minor league games for the Dodgers since signing with them July 30, throwing 4 1/3 innings without allowing a run. He has not walked a batter and has given up only one hit, with two strikeouts.

Tuesday night for Albuquerque he finished one inning and then started the next. Mattingly said the Dodgers were no longer interested in his pitching in back-to-back games.

So what’s left for Wilson to accomplish in the minors? Nothing really, which is why he is likely to be brought up this weekend.

He could be activated Friday in the first of three games in Philadelphia, or with an off day Thursday and a rested bullpen going into Friday’s game, the Dodgers may wait until Saturday.

Either way, Wilson’s arrival looks imminent. Assuming the Dodgers will want to send down a reliever to make room for Wilson, they will have to decide whether to keep rookie Chris Withrow or continue with the Carlos Marmol experiment.

Wilson is coming back from Tommy John surgery, but appears to be in solid form.

“All the reports are good,” Mattingly said. “There’s really nothing negative about Brian at this point.”

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