Advertisement

Kenley Jansen to be activated Saturday; Mike Bolsinger starts Tuesday

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen had surgery to remove a growth from a bone in his left foot in February.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen had surgery to remove a growth from a bone in his left foot in February.

(Alex Gallardo / Associated Press)
Share via

They come, they go, and then they come and go again. The Dodgers have been what you might call active with their 25-man roster through their first 30 games of the season.

Not that they’re planning on slowing down any time soon. Mike Bolsinger was back in the clubhouse Monday and is scheduled to be activated Tuesday to start against the Marlins.

In a more permanent move, at least the Dodgers hope, closer Kenley Jansen is scheduled to make a final rehab appearance Wednesday. Jansen, who has been out since February after foot surgery, said he will be activated Saturday.

Advertisement

The Dodgers have already made 12 changes to their 25-man roster. On Tuesday, Bolsinger will become the fourth Dodger to have been called up twice this season.

Jansen said he hasn’t pitched since the playoffs last October and understands if he is not immediately returned to his role as closer. In his absence the bullpen has performed very well, although no has stepped forward to claim his interim closer role. Yimi Garcia, however, has made himself look like a legit eighth-inning guy, posting an 0.63 ERA and 0.56 WHIP in 14 games.

Jansen pitched Saturday and Sunday for Class A Rancho Cucamonga, his first back-to-games during his rehab stint. Although his results have not been impressive (6.23 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings), Jansen said he has been encouraged.

Advertisement

“I’m very excited,” Jansen said. “I felt great.”

On Monday he did drills covering first base for the first time and reported no issues with the foot.

A significant reason the Dodgers have had a constant shuttle going to and from triple-A Oklahoma City is that two-fifths of their rotation is in flux. Bolsinger made one previous start for the Dodgers, holding the San Francisco Giants to one run on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Bolsinger is one of five pitchers – Carlos Frias, Scott Baker, David Huff, Joe Wieland -- who have been called up to make a spot start. Manager Don Mattingly said he’s not concerned that all the movement up and down is affecting the players.

Advertisement

“I really do expect at some point we’ll level out,” Mattingly said. “Carlos has shown enough that he’ll continue to get the ball.

“I don’t think we have any issues with it. It hasn’t been a problem and I don’t think it will be a problem.”

In a doubleheader for Oklahoma City on Monday, however, Baker allowed nine runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings and Wieland surrendered seven runs and 11 hits in four innings.

Outfielder Yasiel Puig was originally expected to be activated Monday, but aggravated his sore hamstring in a rehab game Friday. Mattingly said Puig had an MRI test on the leg Monday, but he had yet to hear the results.

And there remains no real timetable for the return of left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, who has been out all season because of a chronic shoulder issue.

“He’s doing everything but throwing,” Mattingly said. Which, of course, is the only thing that matters.

Advertisement

Advertisement