The Dodgers have played reliever roulette all season, and Josh Lindblom is the lucky number 13th bullpener to get the call this season. Before today's series finale with the Dodgers have purchase the contract of Lindblom, the soon-to-be 24-year old second round draft pick from 2008 who wowed the Dodgers in spring training in 2009, nearly making the club as a non-roster pitcher. After the experiment to try to convert him to starter failed, Lindblom is back to excelling out of the bullpen, with a 2.96 ERA, and 33 strikeouts (and 11 walks) in 24 1/3 innings with Double A Chattanooga this season.
To make room for Lindblom on the active roster, the Dodgers placed Kenley Jansen on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers deisgnated Travis Schlichting for assignment.
Jansen had a streak of 10 consecutive scoreless appearances snapped Monday in Houston when he allowed three runs in the bottom of the ninth to the Astros, the first blown save of Jansen's career. He didn't pitch again until Saturday night, when he allowed one run in one inning. On the season, Jansen has a 6.43 ERA (and 4.20 tRA, 3.58 FIP, and 2.91 xFIP) with 14 walks and 35 strikeouts in 21 innings.
Schlichting, who spent parts of the last two seasons with the Dodgers, has pitched in Albuquerque all season. The 26-year old had a 6.55 ERA in 18 games with the Isotopes, with 14 walks and 12 strikeouts in 22 innings. Schlichting has used options in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
The Dodgers have had 13 players make 16 different trips to the disabled list this season. Currently, five members of the Dodger bullpen are on the DL, with Jansen joining Jonathan Broxton, Hong-Chih Kuo, Vicente Padilla, and Blake Hawksworth.
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Game Time: 1:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket