The Dodgers took a hit on the field Tuesday night, falling to the Cardinals 13-8 and slipping to 82-56, but the bigger story around the club came from the roster shuffle that unfolded before the loss.
Los Angeles opened September with a rare trade, landing a right-handed pitcher from the Toronto Blue Jays. Even though the calendar has moved well past the trade deadline, clubs can still deal players who are not on 40-man rosters, and the Dodgers took advantage of that window.
The roster churn kept going with a six-player move that also brought an end to a veteran catcher’s time with the organization. At the same time, the Dodgers welcomed back Will Smith and Dalton Rushing behind the plate, adding a pair of catchers back into the mix after long absences.
Smith returned after nearly three months on the injured list, while Rushing was activated after about a month away with a slightly torn UCL. The Dodgers also got another boost in the pitching staff with Justin Wrobleski back from the injured list. He has now shifted to the bullpen after missing time last month with forearm tightness.
Alex Freeland was the other notable addition. The infielder was back on the active roster Tuesday night after last appearing at the MLB level toward the end of July. Before that, he had hit .230 across 73 big league games this season.
Freeland’s value has come from more than just the bat. He has shown strong plate discipline, chasing only 22.6% of pitches outside the strike zone, which lands him in the 88th percentile across MLB. His defense has also stood out, with an Outs Above Average mark of plus-three, good for the 85th percentile among qualified fielders.
With Tommy Edman moving to center field, Freeland is expected to handle a good share of the work at second base moving forward.
On the mound, the Cardinals jumped on Eric Lauer early, tagging him for seven earned runs in just three innings. He struck out two. Offensively, Mookie Betts and Tommy Edman both posted multi-hit games, and Betts drove in four runs.
The Dodgers also had other injury and roster updates circulating Tuesday. Roki Sasaki started throwing again while on the injured list, and Dave Roberts said Sasaki would keep throwing while dealing with the blister on his middle finger, which is being bandaged.
With 25 games left in the regular season, Freddie Freeman is five extra-base hits away from 1,000 for his career. Only 39 players in major league history have reached that mark.
In Other News...
Dodgers Roster Shakeup Just Squeezed Out One Veteran Role Player
The Dodgers got a wave of reinforcements back on the active roster, activating catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing along with left-hander Justin Wrobleski from the injured list. To clear space, the club also recalled infielder Alex Freeland from Triple-A, while outfielder Alek Thomas was optioned back to Triple-A and top prospect James Tibbs III stayed put for now.
The biggest roster casualty in the shuffle was Ben Rortvedt, who was designated for assignment to make room. For a Dodgers team constantly balancing health, depth and development, the move underscores how crowded the catching picture has become, and how quickly a veteran role player can be the odd man out when the injured list starts to empty. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Chose Caution With A September Call-Up Fans Wanted More From
The Dodgers had a fresh roster spot to work with and plenty of outside noise about which young bat should get the nod, but they went with infielder Alex Freeland instead of making the splashier move some fans were hoping for. Dave Roberts had hinted at adding a left-handed bat, and the conversation quickly turned toward top prospects such as James Tibbs III and Josue De Paula, both of whom would have brought more intrigue to the call-up picture.
Instead, Los Angeles stayed on the conservative path, a choice that fits the clubs usual September balancing act between present needs and long-term caution. Freelands recent Triple-A work has been more modest, while Tibbs has been turning in better results, but the Dodgers seem in no rush to force the issue, and the move could also keep more outfield options open for Tommy Edman as the roster shuffle continues. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Catching Shakeup Begins As Will Smith Finally Returns
Will Smith is back on the active roster, and the Dodgers did more than simply plug him back into the lineup. Los Angeles activated Smith along with Dalton Rushing and Justin Wrobleski, while also recalling infielder Alex Freeland from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioning center fielder Alek Thomas as the club shuffled its roster heading into the next stretch of the season.
The bigger catching move came with Ben Rortvedt being designated for assignment to make room for Smith after his stay on the 60-day injured list because of neck inflammation. For the Dodgers, Smiths return restores a familiar presence behind the plate, but the roster squeeze around him hints that the catching situation may still be in flux as the club sorts out how to balance health, depth, and day-to-day playing time. [Read more 🡒]