The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up reliever Seth Holversen, The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reports. The team has not yet confirmed the move.
Halvorsen, 26, was acquired from the Colorado Rockies two weeks before the MLB trade deadline. He had been on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation and was on a minor-league rehab assignment when he was traded. Since then, with the Dodgers’ Triple-A Oklahoma City affiliate, he has notched 8 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings with no runs and 4 hits allowed.
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In 21 appearances for Colorado this season, Halvorsen recorded a 4.74 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 15 walks in 19 innings. Walks have been an issue during Halvorsen’s three MLB seasons, with 38 in 71 career innings, an average of 4.9 per nine frames. But he routinely hits 100 mph with his fastball, which is likely why the Rockies and Dodgers were willing to overlook his control issues.
The assumption might be that Halvorsen will benefit from not having to pitch at Coors Field. That said, he actually pitched better there (3.40 ERA) than on the road (5.46) during his Rockies career.
Despite the Dodgers holding a 7.5-game lead in the NL West and the fourth-best record in MLB at 70-48, their bullpen is a weakness on the current roster. Dodgers relievers have a collective 4.01 ERA, which is roughly in the middle of the pack among MLB teams.
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Every time manager Dave Roberts goes to his bullpen, he risks squandering the efforts of the team’s starters, whose collective ERA of 3.54 is second-best in MLB. (Overall, the Dodgers’ 3.42 team ERA ranks third in baseball.)
Closer Edwin Díaz might be a particular cause for concern with 3 blown saves in 8 opportunities, as well as 12 runs and 17 hits allowed in 10 innings, resulting in a 10.80 ERA. Díaz underwent surgery in April to remove loose bodies in his right elbow and was sidelined for three months while recovering.
In five appearances since his return, he has allowed 4 runs and 6 hits (two of them home runs) in 3 innings for a 12.00 ERA.
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Halvorsen won’t take over as the Dodgers’ closer. But if he’s able to pitch well in middle innings, that deepens the depth of the bullpen. Roberts can then use his best relievers, including Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia and Jack Dreyer, in late-inning, high-leverage situations.
