It used to be that a flood of players joined big-league teams on or around September 1, as active rosters expanded from 25 players to as many 40. The September flood is more of a trickle these days, with rosters just going from 26 to 28 players. But for the Dodgers this year, it’s a pretty important trickle, as it will allow them to activate a couple important players who have been sidelined with injuries.
In addition to getting starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw back from the IL, it appears the Dodgers will use the September 1 roster expansion to bring back high-leverage reliever Blake Treinen, according to J.P. Hoornstra of the Orange County Register.
Blake Treinen was expected to make his latest rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday night. The right-hander is expected to rejoin the Dodgers’ bullpen Sept. 1.
Treinen pitched just three games this season before going down with a shoulder injury in mid-April. He ended up being out quite a bit longer than the team originally expected, but he has looked good on his rehab stint with Triple-A Oklahoma City, striking out five in three scoreless innings and allowing just to baserunners.
Treinen was the Dodgers’ best reliever in 2021, posting a 1.99 ERA in 72.1 innings pitched. His strikeout rate, which had been far below his career average his first season in L.A., rebounded to the highest point of his career other than his spectacular 2018 season. He also allowed the lowest hard-hit percentage and the lowest average exit velocity of his career.
The Dodgers will be hoping for classic high-leverage performance from Treinen, although they might not throw him right into that fire immediately. With an insurmountable division lead, a solid lead in the race for best record in baseball, and the best offense in baseball, the Dodgers can afford to ease Treinen back into his role at the back of their bullpen as they try to line everything up for a long October run.
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