Dodgers activate John Axford, place Erik Goeddel on DL

The Dodgers on Friday activated reliever John Axford and placed right-hander Erik Goeddel on the 10-day disabled list with right lat inflammation.

Axford, acquired Tuesday from the Blue Jays, has made 45 appearances this season for Toronto, giving up 27 runs (25 earned) in 51 innings. The right-hander is the 26th pitcher this season that has come into a game for the Dodgers as a reliever.

Pitching for his eighth team in his 10th year in the big leagues, Axford joins a cast of characters that have tried to get the ball from the starter to Kenley Jansen on any given night.

The Dodgers believe — as they do with all pitchers they acquire — that they can use the 35-year-old effectively. The former closer has made 12 appearances this season of getting four or more outs, including the final game he appeared in for the Blue Jays in a three-inning start July 28.

Goeddel has made 25 appearances for the Dodgers since he was acquired from Seattle in mid-May. After not allowing a run in his first 13 games with Los Angeles, Goeddel has given up 11 runs in last 13 ²⁄₃ innings over 12 games, including three of the five runs the Brewers scored Thursday.