Kenley Jansen & Josh Lindblom: Joined At The Transactional Hip

After finishing off the Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon, the Dodgers optioned reliever Josh Lindblom to Double A Chattanooga to make room for Kenley Jansen, who was activated off the disabled list. Jansen was placed on the DL on July 29 with cardiac arrhythmia, missing roughly four weeks. He pitched in two rehab games with Class A Rancho Cucamonga, Sunday and Thursday, retiring all six batters he faced, including four strikeouts.

Jansen and Lindblom have been linked at the transactional hip for most of the season. On May 29, Jansen was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, and at the time Jansen had a gaudy 6.43 ERA. He had a very impressive 35 strikeouts in 21 innings, but also issued 14 walks. Since then, the bullpen spot occupied by Lindblom or Jansen has been very effective:

• Lindblom's first major league stint saw him pitch 10 2/3 innings in eight games, allowing two runs on eight hits, with three walks and five strikeouts.
• On June 18, Jansen was reinstated from the DL and Lindblom was optioned; Jansen dominated from that point forward, with 16 scoreless innings over 14 appearances, allowing all of three hits, with seven walks and 26 strikeouts.
• After Jansen had the irregular heartbeat, Lindblom was recalled a second time to replace him on the roster. In eight appearances, Lindblom has thrown the equivalent of a 145-pitch complete game over his eight appearances: nine innings, eight hits, three runs, three walks, eight strikeouts.

Outside of a brief period of May 1-6 when Jansen was optioned to Chattanooga, Lindblom and Jansen have not been on the same team at the same time all year. However, Lindblom will be back soon after rosters expand in September.