Hong-Chih Kuo was activated from the disabled list today, and to make room the Dodgers optioned Kenley Jansen to Double A Chattanooga (it was first reported as Triple A, but the Dodgers later clarified). Kuo was solid in his rehab assignment on Friday night with Rancho Cucamonga, striking out two in his one inning of work. Manager Don Mattingly talked about sending Jansen down before the game, per Jimmy Bramlett of LAist:
Mattingly on Jansen: I don't think he did anything wrong except have options.
The Dodgers certainly could have designated Lance Cormier for assignment, as he is useless at the end of the bullpen. But it's not like Cormier will suddenly start pitching important innings either (the closest to a meaningful inning he has pitched this season has been entering the game down three in the seventh inning on April 14, when the Dodgers had an 8% win expectancy). Cormier's role is mop-up man, and that won't change.
Jansen has had two blow-up outings this season, and on the year has allowed 11 runs, 21 baserunners, and three home runs in 13 1/3 innings. But he also has 22 strikeouts and clearly given the options on the roster Jansen deserves a spot in a seven-man bullpen. However, he is also currently fifth at best on the depth chart, rightly or wrongly, in terms of closing games, behind Jonathan Broxton, Kuo, Vicente Padilla, and Matt Guerrier. If the Dodgers want Jansen to close games in the minors while also refining some things, I find it hard to muster up enough outrage to start grabbing pitchforks. He'll be back soon enough.
Lineups
Dioner Navarro makes his first start for the Dodgers since May 4, 2006.
Padres | Dodgers | |||
RF | Venable | LF | Gwynn |
|
SS | Bartlett | 2B | Miles | |
3B | Headley | RF | Ethier | |
C | Hundley | CF | Kemp | |
2B | Hudson | 3B | Uribe | |
CF | Maybin | 1B | Loney | |
1B | Hawpe | C | Navarro | |
LF | Patterson |
SS | Carroll | |
P | Moseley |
P | Garland |
Game Time: 1:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket