In a significant roster move, the Los Angeles Dodgers have activated pitcher Blake Treinen from the 60-day injured list, following the placement of Eric Lauer on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow inflammation. This change comes just a day after Lauer had a disappointing outing, allowing seven runs in three innings, marking his worst performance since joining the Dodgers.
Treinen's activation is a welcome development for the Dodgers, who have been without the right-hander for over two months due to his own right elbow issues. During his rehabilitation stint, Treinen made seven appearances across minor league levels, including one game with Class-A Ontario and six games with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Over these outings, he demonstrated his readiness by throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and striking out eight batters.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism about Treinen's return, noting his strong performance in a recent four-out appearance. "He had a good up-and-down the other day. For us, it’s more of he’s here. We’ll see when we activate him," Roberts said, indicating that Treinen's presence would bolster the team's pitching depth.
To accommodate Treinen on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers moved Will Klein to the 60-day injured list due to right elbow discomfort. Klein's season is effectively over, as he will not be eligible to return until September 30, which coincides with the start of the wild card round. This move underscores the challenges the Dodgers face in maintaining their pitching staff as they approach the final stretch of the regular season.
Currently, the Dodgers have four active starting pitchers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. With Lauer sidelined, the team plans to utilize a sixth starter for their upcoming series against the Washington Nationals, likely opting for Emmet Sheehan. Sheehan has been impressive in Triple-A, allowing just one run over his last 17 1/3 innings, which includes 24 strikeouts.
As the Dodgers prepare for their next series, they will also need to address the rotation for Monday's game against the Cincinnati Reds, which would have been Lauer's turn. Justin Wrobleski, who is on the active roster, could step in to pitch bulk innings if necessary, especially with the team carrying 14 active pitchers.
Another potential option for the Dodgers is Gavin Stone, who has been performing well in his rehab assignment, striking out 18 batters while allowing only two runs in 11 2/3 innings. However, the team is exercising caution with Stone, who has not pitched since undergoing shoulder surgery in October 2024. Roberts commented on Stone's progress, emphasizing the importance of keeping him healthy for the future. "Gavin’s been good. I think right now — this is not talking to guys in player development — but just getting him to stay upright and stay healthy is a win for 2026," he said.
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