Dodgers option Adam Liberatore to minor league camp

PHOENIX -- The Dodgers made one more roster move after Monday's game against the Rangers, optioning pitcher Adam Liberatore to minor league camp. The move clarifies one of the final few decisions remaining in the bullpen - that either Luis Avilan will make the club or the Dodgers will only carry one left-hander in the bullpen.

Liberatore, who turns 29 in May, was relatively effective in Cactus League play, putting up a 3.00 ERA in 10 games, with 11 strikeouts and no walks in nine innings.

Liberatore made his major league debut for the Dodgers in 2015, and in his major league stints had a 4.25 ERA and 3.40 FIP in 39 games, with 29 strikeouts and nine walks in 29⅔ innings.

The move leaves the Dodgers with just two left-handed pitchers remaining in the bullpen in J.P. Howell and Avilan, and comes one day after Avilan allowed three runs against the Reds. Avilan, who also has options, has allowed nine runs on 13 hits in his eight appearances, with a 13.50 ERA in six innings, with seven strikeouts and three walks.

"You don’t want to completely judge on spring training, especially if a guy has a track record, but there has got to be some success and some confidence going into a season," Roberts said of Avilan on Sunday. "I think that you have two lefties in the pen, they both have got to get lefties out and so we’ve tried to put them in spots to get lefties and as we kind of get towards the end of camp, he’s going to get those opportunities that we are looking for him to have better success."

With Liberatore optioned to the minors, the Dodgers have 38 active players remaining in big league camp, including 18 pitchers.

Up & down

Kenley Jansen threw 28 pitches in recording four outs on Monday, pitching parts of the sixth and seventh innings. Howell recorded four outs himself, pitching the eighth and ninth innings. Roberts said it was by design, just in case they are called upon for extended appearances during the regular season.

"We talk about to the guys in the pen about potentially going one-plus, and it's unfair for us to ask it of them in the season if they haven't done it," Roberts explained. "All of our guys have done it and they feel good about it. Going forward, it's not so foreign to them."