The Dodgers made a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday before their game against the Diamondbacks. Outfielder Scott Van Slyke, who has been with the team just a month and is second on the club in home runs, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with left shoulder bursitis. The Dodgers recalled outfielder Alex Castellanos and relief pitcher Chris Withrow from Triple-A Albuquerque, and optioned shortstop Justin Sellers to the Isotopes.
Van Slyke was in an 0-for-12 slump and was hitting just .221 with a .284 on-base percentage, but he also has six home runs, good for second on the team, and a .559 slugging percentage. Since getting recalled from Triple-A on May 10 Van Slyke leads the Dodgers in both home runs (six) and extra-base hits (11).
Van Slyke is the 15th player to be placed on the disabled list by the Dodgers this season, and the 20th DL stint by the club this season.
Withrow, the Dodgers' first round pick in 2007, made the switch from starter to reliever late in 2012. He has taken to the role quite nicely in Triple-A in 2013, with a 1.93 ERA in 22 games, with 30 strikeouts and 12 walks in 23⅓ innings.
"I don't think it changed my style, I just got more aggressive to hitters," Withrow said in spring training of his switch to relief. "I don't have to pace myself against hitters early on in the game. So I just go at them with my best stuff right away."
Withrow has been especially stingy in his last seven outings, dating back to May 22, with 11 strikeouts and only one walk in 7⅔ innings, with just one unearned run allowed.
This is technically the second time Withrow has been recalled to the majors, though he has yet to pitch. Withrow was recalled on Sept. 1, 2012 and was simultaneously placed on the 60-day disabled list with a lat strain because the Dodgers need to open up space on the 40-man roster.
Castellanos hit .270/.359/.491 with nine home runs in 43 games for the Isotopes, though he was hitting .185 (5-for-27) in June. This will be his first stint with the Dodgers in 2013. In three stints with the big club in 2012 Castellanos was 4-for-23 (.174) with a home run and a triple.
Sellers was just recalled on Monday, and struck out as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. Sellers hit .188/.263/.246 in 27 games for the Dodgers this season.
Withrow will be 21st to pitch for the Dodgers this season. Outside of Scott Elbert, who hasn't pitched and is out for the year after Tommy John surgery, the only pitcher left on the 40-man roster for the Dodgers who will have yet to pitch for the Dodgers will be Steven Ames. In fact (hat tip to Andrew Grant for this), Ames is the only player on the 40-man roster who hasn't yet been called up or placed on the disabled list this season.
Withrow, who wore No. 68 during spring training, will now wear No. 44.
Game info
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: KCAL