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LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers recalled utility man Breyvic Valera on Tuesday and optioned pitcher Brock Stewart, which is noteworthy for 2018.
Stewart getting optioned is not surprising, since his days were numbered with Clayton Kershaw set to return for Thursday’s start. But the usual gambit of optioning the starter who wouldn’t have been available for a few days anyway is accompanied by calling up yet another reliever. But not this time.
Starting lineups
| Pos | Phillies | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Phillies | Pos | Dodgers |
| 2B | Hernandez (S) | 1B | Muncy (L) |
| 3B | Florimon (S) | 3B | Turner |
| CF | Herrera (L) | CF | Bellinger (L) |
| 1B | Santana (S) | LF | Kemp |
| RF | Altherr | SS | Taylor |
| LF | Williams (L) | RF | Puig |
| SS | Kingery | 2B | Forsythe |
| C | Alfaro | C | Barnes |
| P | Arrieta | P | Maeda |
Valera is back in the majors for a fourth time this season, giving the Dodgers a full, five-player bench. It’s the first time they have had five position players available off the bench with a 25-man roster all season. The other two times the Dodgers have had a five-man bench this season were the doubleheader on April 28 in San Francisco and the three-game series in Mexico from May 4-6. In both cases, a 26th player was allowed to both teams’ rosters.
Not that we should get used to this sudden abundance of choices Dave Roberts has at his disposal. After all Kershaw is due back on Thursday so this arrangement could last just two days, if not sooner.
Valera is 0-for-4 with a pair of walks in five games with the Dodgers this season, playing two innings at second base and 2⅓ innings in right field. The switch-hitter is hitting .317/.393/.537 with six home runs, five doubles and two triples in 36 games in Triple-A this season.
All of Valera’s six plate apperances in the majors so far in 2018 have come batting left-handed.
Hoskins sits
One night after fouling a ball off his own face, Phillies outfielder Rhys Hoskins is out of the starting lineup on Tuesday night. Hoskins fouled a 1-2 pitch that caromed off his shoulder before hitting his mouth in the ninth inning of Monday’s game, and had to come out of the game, all the while holding a towel to cover his bleeding mouth.
All good guys, just a liiiiiittle swollen. Thanks for reaching out!
— Rhys Hoskins (@rhyshoskins) May 29, 2018
On the positive side I’ll get to wear a helmet flap like the cool kids now #GoPhils
Hoskins started in left field in Monday’s game, but his absence gives Aaron Altherr a start on Tuesday, in right field. Nick Williams started in right field on Monday and shifts over the left on Tuesday.