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Dodgers expected to promote outfielder Chris Heisey on Wednesday

Dodgers outfielder Chris Heisey greets Chicago Cubs infielder Chris Valaika before a spring training game on March 11.

Dodgers outfielder Chris Heisey greets Chicago Cubs infielder Chris Valaika before a spring training game on March 11.

(Chris Carlson / Associated Press)
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Chris Heisey was in the Dodgers clubhouse Tuesday in the hours leading up to their series opener against the San Francisco Giants, but the minor league outfielder said he wasn’t expected to be officially added to the active roster until Wednesday.

“I’ll be activated for tomorrow’s game, I believe,” Heisey said. “Other than that, I don’t know why I’m here.”

Heisey, who was acquired in an off-season trade with the Cincinnati Reds, started the season with triple-A Oklahoma City.

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Manager Don Mattingly declined to reveal the team’s plans for Heisey, other than to say the outfielder wasn’t at AT&T Park as insurance for Yasiel Puig, who is in the lineup Tuesday but missed four of the previous five games with a strained left hamstring.

The Dodgers currently have eight relief pitchers instead of the usual seven. At the end of the game Tuesday night, they could send one of their surplus relievers to the minor leagues and add Heisey to the roster. The right-handed-hitting Heisey could start over the left-handed-hitting Carl Crawford or Joc Pederson on Wednesday, when the Dodgers face left-hander Madison Bumgarner.

If that’s the case, Heisey’s stay in the major leagues could be brief. The Dodgers will likely promote a pitcher from the minors to start the series finale Thursday. Heisey could be sent back to Oklahoma City to make room for that pitcher.

Heisey batted only .100 in spring training, but started the triple-A season well, hitting four home runs in his first 10 games.

Follow Dylan Hernandez on Twitter @dylanohernandez

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