The Los Angeles Dodgers made some moves on Tuesday ahead of their three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Right-handed relief pitcher Casey Fien was activated off the 15-day disabled list and pitcher Brock Stewart was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City. In a subsequent move, Zach Walters, who was designated for assignment on Sunday was released from the team.
Fien is a flame-throwing reliever who was placed on the DL on July 19th with right elbow tendonitis. He missed 24 games at the Major League level before making four rehab assignments in Class-A Rancho.
Fien is a close personal friend of another Dodger starting pitcher, Bud Norris, who is currently on the 15-day disabled list with a lat muscle injury in his back. Norris was the best man in Fien's wedding as the two pitchers were roommates together at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in college.
Meanwhile, Stewart worked his role to perfection as he was called up on Sunday as an insurance policy on starting pitcher Brett Anderson who made his 2016 season debut after missing most of the season with a back injury.
Stewart's role as the long man was called upon when Anderson hurt his wrist trying to field his position in the first inning. The Dodgers removed the left-hander from the game for precautionary reasons and Stewart was required to throw three innings of relief in his stead.
With Stewart unavailable for the next few days, the Dodgers opted to send him back down to OKC and activate Fien so they could carry nine relievers on their seven-game road trip to Philadelphia and Cincinnati. Norris is expected to be activated off the DL on Thursday and start in the game, and the team will likely option another reliever giving them eight for their four-game series with the Reds.
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Some might remember Walters as a utility player who made his Dodgers debut after the All-Star break. Walters became the odd-man out when the team needed to open a roster spot for the return of Anderson on Sunday.
After an 0-for-5 stint at the Major League level, Walters was hitting .276 in 94 games with OKC. He was released by the team on Tuesday.
