Dodgers activate Luis Avilan from paternity list

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers activated relief pitcher Luis Avilan off the paternity list before their weekend series against the Padres begins on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

Avilan missed the three games against the Diamondbacks in Arizona after his wife on Monday gave birth to the couple’s first son, Sebastian Andres.

The left-hander has a 3.09 ERA and 2.92 FIP in 47 games this season, with 39 strikeouts and 15 walks in 32 innings. He has held left-handed batters to just .185/.274/.292.

Since the All-Star break, all batters are just 3-for-28 (.107) against Avilan, with 10 strikeouts and five walks.

To make room on the active roster, the Dodgers optioned pitcher Brock Stewart to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was recalled for bullpen depth to replace Avilan, and pitched 1⅓ innings in relief on Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits while throwing 34 pitches.

The Dodgers bullpen currently has three southpaws, in Avilan, Tony Watson, and Tony Cingrani.