Dodgers option Paco Rodriguez to minors, activate Brian Wilson

Turns out the Dodgers didn’t send down Chris Withrow or have some other reliever go on the disabled list with a sudden injury to activate Brian Wilson.

Instead, they decided to make do with one left-handed reliever.

Prior to Tuesday’s game against the Giants, the Dodgers activated Wilson and optioned Paco Rodriguez to triple-A Albuquerque.

J.P. Howell needs to be ready to make plenty of appearances. He is now their lone left-hander in the bullpen.

Rodriguez spent all last season with the Dodgers, after appearing in only 21 minor league games before being called up in 2012. Rodriguez was absolutely amazing in 2013 until a heavy work load appeared to wear him down in September.

In eight appearances this season (5 2/3 innings), he was charged with two runs on six hits and a pair of walks, with five strikeouts.

But somebody had be moved off the roster to activate Wilson, on the DL with what the Dodgers called nerve irritation in his elbow, though it may have been he simply needed to work more innings to be ready for the season.

Withrow was seen as a possible candidate to be sent down, because he, Rodriguez and closer Kenley Jansen are the only three in the bullpen with options remaining.

Withrow, however, has been brilliant early this season. In six appearances he has yet to allow a run, and has 12 strikeouts and two walks in his seven innings.

Likewise, Howell is yet to be scored upon, but he is now Manager Don Mattingly’s lone left-handed weapon coming out of the bullpen. He doesn’t figure to see many middle innings.