Dodgers place Edwin Uceta on injured list with a lumbar strain, recall Zach Reks

Before Saturday’s game against the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers have made yet another roster move, and in a twist this one removes a relief pitcher from the roster.

Edwin Uceta, who pitched two of the previous three days, was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left lumbar strain, and the Dodgers recalled outfielder Zach Reks from Triple-A Oklahoma City. This is the seventh consecutive day with at least one Dodgers roster move. Every other transaction dating back to July 2 either directly involved adding a relief pitcher, or facilitated the addition of one.

Uceta allowed a walk-off, three-run home run on Wednesday in Miami, and walked three of his six batters faced in the series opener on Friday, allowing two insurance runs in the ninth inning of the D-backs’ second road victory in three months. In 11 major league games in his rookie season, the 23-year-old Uceta has an 8.10 ERA and 5.33 FIP with 18 strikeouts, 11 walks, and three home runs allowed in 16⅔ innings.

Uceta is the 23rd Dodgers player to be placed on the injured list this season.

Reks, who was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster along with Uceta in November, was in the majors for one previous stint this year, called up on June 21 for one day to start in San Diego, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout against Yu Darvish while playing into the fifth inning in left field.

With Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, Reks is hitting .325/.419/.581 with 17 doubles and eight home runs in 42 games, including three home runs and 10 RBI in 10 games since he was optioned back to the minors.