Matt Magill has Triple-A outing shortened by Dodgers, keeping call-up options open

Dodgers starting pitcher Matt Magill struck out seven for Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday night in a home win over Oklahoma City, but his outing was cut short after just four innings and 71 pitches by the Dodgers front office. Chris Jackson at the Albuquerque Examiner has more details:

Magill said he would have liked to have gone back out for a fifth inning, but the decision was out of his hands.

"They said someone called (from Los Angeles) and I was done, so I don't think it was up to the coaches here or me," Magill said.

Just because Magill had his outing shortened doesn't mean he is on his way to join the Dodgers, but it's hard to blame the team for keeping its options open. After three starters have hit the disabled list in the last week and a half, the Dodgers now have a far less stable starting rotation than the team that began the season with eight starting pitchers on the roster.

Ted Lilly will be activated from the disabled list to start Wednesday's game in New York. Lilly has had his arm stretched out through three minor league rehab appearances, but hasn't pitched on a major league mound since last May 23. Stephen Fife is the fifth starter for now, and allowed four runs in 4⅔ innings on Sunday in Baltimore. Given the Dodgers' lack of a true long man in the bullpen, it is possible Fife could be needed in relief before his next scheduled start, which would necessitate the need for another starter next weekend.

Magill, who was added to the 40-man roster in November, is next in line. The 23-year-old right-hander has a 2.84 ERA in four starts, with 23 strikeouts and 14 walks in 19 innings, and has seven strikeouts in each of his last three starts.

The next start for Fife, or Magill, would be Saturday night against the Brewers at Dodger Stadium.