Dodgers recall Adam Liberatore from Triple-A

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers on Tuesday recalled pitcher Adam Liberatore from Triple-A Oklahoma City, adding a third left-handed short reliever for the final two weeks of the regular season.

With the move, the Dodgers' active roster now has 37 players, including 18 pitchers.

Liberatore, 28, was acquired by the Dodgers from the Rays in November and in April and made his major league debut. In a pair of stints in the majors this season, Liberatore was 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 35 games, with 26 strikeouts and nine walks (five unintentional walks) in 26 innings.

The southpaw held left-handers to hitting just .228/.279/.386, but was equally effective against right-handed batters to hitting .214/.298/.333 this season.

Liberatore had a 3.74 ERA in 19 games in Triple-A, with 18 strikeouts and 10 walks in 21⅔ innings.

In the first three months of the season, Liberatore between the majors and minors had a 30.3-percent strikeout rate and 6.9-percet walk rate. But since the beginning of July the strikeout rate is down to 13.4 percent with a 12.4-percent walk rate.

The club has used long man Ian Thomas in short relief twice during the homestand, so perhaps even with a 13-man bullpen the need for left-handers is unending.

Liberatore last pitched on Sept. 11, throwing a scoreless inning in Game 3 of the Pacific Coast League American Conference Finals.