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LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers on Friday before their three-game series with the Giants sent reliever Grant Dayton to the disabled list and recalled catcher Kyle Farmer from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dayton is experiencing the same neck pain that landed him on the DL for most of July. The lefty has appeared in two games since being activated July 20, giving up four runs in 1 1⁄3 innings.
According to manager Dave Roberts, Dayton feels the pain following through on his delivery.
In 29 games with the Dodgers this season, Dayton has a 4.94 ERA and 5.73 FIP, with 20 strikeouts and 12 walks in 23 2⁄3 innings.
Farmer gets his first call to the big leagues as the third catcher on the roster. The Dodgers like the versatility of being free to use Austin Barnes earlier in the game. Farmer can also play at the corner infield spots a well as outfield.
In 81 games between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A, Farmer was hitting .326 with nine homers, 20 doubles and a triple.
Barnes is in the lineup against Giants’ lefty Matt Moore Friday, hitting sixth. In his first full year in the majors, Barnes has a .952 OPS in 55 games while hitting .301 with six homers.
All of Barnes’ homers have come against left-handed starters against whom he is hitting .309 on the season.
Starting Lineups
| Pos | Giants | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Giants | Pos | Dodgers |
| CF | Span (L) | LF | Taylor |
| 2B | Panik (L) | SS | Seager (L) |
| RF | Pence | 3B | Turner |
| 1B | Posey | 1B | Bellinger (L) |
| SS | Crawford (L) | 2B | Forsythe |
| 3B | Hwang | C | Barnes |
| C | Hundley | RF | Hernandez |
| LF | Hernandez | CF | Pederson (L) |
| P | Moore (L) | P | Wood (L) |
Friday is Chris Taylor’s 23rd start in the leadoff spot in the order. In the previous 22 games, Taylor is hitting .437 with six homers, seven doubles, one triple, 18 RBIs and 20 runs scored. The Dodgers have won 18 of those 22 games.
The Giants offense has struggled all year and has hit only 11 homers in July as a team. Joe Panik is hitting .213 (16-for-75) and Hunter Pence has struggled at .179 (15-for-84).
Injury Update
Clayton Kershaw has been cleared to play catch and that’s just what he did Friday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
“(Kershaw) came in yesterday and felt really good,” Roberts said. “For him to get the go-ahead to start playing catch again, I think that’s ahead of where we all anticipated.
“I’m cautiously optimistic at this point.”
Roberts added that Kershaw has responded well to medication and treatment and as long as his back continues to feel well, they can move forward. A rehab assignment is “still down the road” and there is still absolutely no timetable set for a return.